Bombay L5183 271 Sqn BoFtN 11/5/40

[paulmcmillan]

A slight correction to this


Sgt William Harry Whitfield #740692 was 501 Sqn not 271 (an error which is repeated on CWGC)


I provide the following evidence for this

a) WAR DEATHS (RAF ALL RANKS) 1939 - 1945 GRO

Says 501 Sqn

b) Sgt Whitfield mentioned numerous times in 501 Sqn ORB from Jan to May 1940

c) Posting from relative here in 2001

http://www.rafcommands.com/forum/sho...Betheniville-F

I was just reviewing all info on 501 Sqn Pilots in Jan to 1940 to June 1940

in hope of (and failing to) ID those old chestnuts "Sgt A A Lewis" Shot Down "June 8th 1940" Hurricane P3347 SD-N" (some info says Killed but no record on CWGC, War Deaths and not in BoFtN) and F/Sgt AD Payne - There was a F/Sgt Payne at 16 Sqn in he 1935 but I can't ID him yet

Paul

[Larry Hickey]

Hello,

These kinds of posts that revise errors or update incomplete information in Peter Cornwell's data bases, in this case "The Battle of France: Then and Now" are greatly appreciated. Peter has now revised this entry as follows for the EoE DB:

"11 May 1940 RAF TRANSPORT COMMAND 271 (TRANSPORT) SQUADRON Amend: Bristol Bombay L5813. Stalled and crashed at Bétheniville (France) during landing approach following transfer flight 5.10 p.m. Crew believed unhurt. Aircraft a write-off.
This aircraft was carrying a number of No.501 Squadron personnel as follows: Flying Officer Alister Charles Jocelyn Percy (Squadron Adjutant), Sergeant Harold James Barnwell, and Sergeant William Harry Whitfield all killed, Flying Officer Bernard John Richard Brady seriously injured - evacuated to hospital in England where died August 14, Sergeant H. C. Adams, Flight Sergeant F. T. Avent, Sergeant D. B. Crabtree, Sergeant J. Davis, Pilot Officer B. L. Duckenfield, AC1 A. F. Holdsworth, and LAC A. L. W. Holt all injured."

Does anyone know if photos exist of this Bombay before the crash or show the crash site at Bétheniville, France? Does anyone know who the apparently uninjured members of the crew were, especially the pilot?

Thank you Paul.

[Martin Gleeson]

Paul,

Thanks for the information on Whitfield.

Larry,

The crew of the Bombay were;
F/O Frederick Peter James McGevor DFM (Pilot),
Sgt. Williams (2nd pilot),
AC2 Holdsworth,
one other crewman.
All four were injured, Sgt. Williams seriously so. AC2 Holdsworth returned to duty in June 1940 with the unit.
This information from the 271 Sqn. ORB (AIR 27/1573) and the London Gazette.

Hope this helps,

Martin.

[Martin Gleeson]

A bit more digging, mostly in the online Flight Archive, CWGC website and the AIR 78 files.

565050 Sgt. Sidney Charles Williams. Killed December 1941.
617613 AC2 Alan Frederick Holdsworth.
And probably 526203 LAC Albert Lloyd Winston Holt, but not definitively sure.

McGevor rejoined 271 Squadron on 9 August 1940 after the May crash, but was sadly killed in 1942.

Regards,

Martin.

[Larry Hickey]

Hello,

With Martin's info, we're down to needing an a/c code and photos of the crash.

Can anyone complete this one?

[paulmcmillan]

Couple more names for you

Sgt Crabtree is Sgt Douglas Barker Crabtree #125730
Sgt Adams is Sgt Hugh Charles Adams #741254

Flight Sgt Avent and Sgt Davis were IIRC non Aircrew Sgts on 501 Sqn

[paulmcmillan]

Flight Global 'coughed up' out some more info


WOUNDED OR INJURED ON ACTIVE SERVICE —
Sgt. H. C. Adams (741254) ; Flt. Sgt. F. T. Avent (361650); P/O. B. J. R. Brady (90403); A.P/O. V. V. L. Clarke (77688); Sgt, D. B. Crabtree (740434); Sgt. J. Davis (590709); A/C. 2nd Class F. Eccles (640885); A/C. 1st Class A. F. Holdsworth (617613); L.A/C. A. L. W. Holt (526203); P/O. T. de T. MacDonald (33571); F/O. F. P.J. McGevor, D.F.M. (70424); Sgt. S. C. Williams (565050)


I would suggest missing 271 Sqn man may be Eccles or MacDonald or Clarke or Brady but My guestimate is A/C. 2nd Class F. Eccles (640885); as I feel an officer would be named in ORB, but Air Force list may reveal there last postings of those Officer in case casualty list

AIR 78 may tease out the full names

Confirms Holt as Martin suggests

[paulmcmillan]

some more full names from that casualty list

Flt. Sgt. Frank Thomas Avent (361650);
A/C. 2nd Class Frank Eccles (640885);

All Officers on that casualty list are General Duties Branch so I suspect other incidents except Brady who was on the Bombay

A.P/O. Valdemir Vivian Lewis Clarke (77688) need to check in Valdamir

P/O. Trevor de Trafford MacDonald (33571);

P/O. Bernard John Richard Brady (90403)

"Though without Anger" states that F/O Bernard John Richard BRADY
was injured on 11.5.1940 when Bombay L5813 crashed on landing at Bethenville.
He was then repatriated to the UK where he died from his injuries on 14.8.1940.

Ignore Martin already has this about Brady, but I have found out he was with 615 sqn in Jan 1939

[Larry Hickey]

Paul,

All of us at the EoE Project thank you for your continuing efforts to complete the info on this crash. Our entry gets more complete each day on this complicated incident.

[Martin Gleeson]

Paul, Larry

The two missing names are;
P/O Bryon Leonard Duckenfield,
Sgt Jack Davis.
Both courtesy of the LG.

However I feel caution is required about MacDonald, Clarke and Eccles. The 501 Sqn. ORB records 9 killed or injured of their men in the crash and this list seems complete. These may well be a crew from another squadron, though I can find no match at present.

Regards,

Martin.