Sub Lt (A) Lionel Franklin killed 13/4/40

[Brian]

Hi guys

The above Fleet Air Arm officer is listed as lost on 13 April 1940, with no known grave.

One source suggests that he was a Swordfish pilot with 816 Squadron and was killed in action during an attack on German destroyers at Narvik (Norway). However, this is not substantiated by Ray Sturtivant in his excellent book The Swordfish Story.

Any ideas, please?

Cheers
Brian

PS: I hear that Ray is unwell. Any news, anyone?

[Amrit1]

http://www.allenby.info/aircraft/planes/insea/l4339.html

On the 13th of April 1940 six Wellingtons of 38 Squadron were tasked with a reconnaissance flight to Vaernes aerodrome. This aircraft was last heard transmitting at 00.04hrs whilst over the North Sea. It was presumed to have crashed into the sea 22 miles north of Whitby. Ken Delves book "RAF Marham" states that all six aircraft sustained damage, with one P9269 probably being shot down by enemy fighters (though W Chorley's Losses book indicates this was on an Op the previous day. L4339 he states was ditched in the case of the incident off Whitby.

Pilot - P/O George L Crosby RAF (40679), aged 20, of Lincoln. Commerated on the Runnymede Memorial.

Pilot - P/O Arthur G W Merewether RAF (41860), aged 23, of Wanganui, Wellington, New Zealand and Husband to Margaret Merewether of East Linton, East Lothian. Commerated on the Runnymede Memorial.

? - Sub/Lt(A) Lionel C Franklin RN (HMS Sparrowhawk), aged 20, of Aldeburgh, Suffolk. Commerated on the Lee-on-Solent Memorial. Son of Brevet Col. G. D. Franklin, C.I.E., O.B.E., J.P., I.M.S. (Retd.), and Mrs. Franklin,

? - Sgt Ronald H Wills RAF (580722), aged ? Of ? Commerated on the Runnymede Memorial. CWGC list his date of death as 14th April 1940.

? - AC2 Robert M G Clark RAF (61802), aged 26, of Belfast. Commerated on the Runnymede Memorial.

? - P/O Charles E W R N V-N-P Edmunds RAFVR (75997), of Melton, Suffolk. Commerated on the Runnymede Memorial.

[Amrit1]

And from: http://www.naval-history.net/xDKWW2-4004-13APR02.htm

British S/Lt (A) L.C. Franklin of 771 Squadron, lent to Bomber Command, was killed when the Wellington of 38 Squadron he was in crashed twenty two miles north of Whitby.

[Brian]

Hi Amrit - thanks a million!

At least I won't make the same mistake as a previous author!

I owe you one!
Cheers
Brian