Fairey Battle Aircrew - Help Requested

[Iain Torrance]

All

I am looking for help in contacting relatives of airmen of Fairey Battles lost in Centre-Ardenne in May 1940. The background is that a research group based in Bouillon is organising memorials to recognise the courage of the crews and ensure they are not forgotten. It is intended that there will be ceremonies for the dedication of memorials in May, 2015 – which will, obviously, be the 75th anniversary of the events. These memorials are being supported by the municipal authorities.

I have been working with this research group and it has been fascinating to compare the RAF version of events with the local “on the ground” recollections that they have assembled from witnesses. In addition all the crash sites in the Centre-Ardenne area have now been identified.

Information is now being sought on the lives of the airmen to complete the research. It is also hoped that some relatives may be able to attend the ceremonies.

The list of the airmen is as follows:


P2251 88 Squ 11-May-40 F/Lt Alan John Madge 39098 POW Pilot

P2251 88 Squ 11-May-40 Sgt Edward James Mortimer Whittle 563211 KIA Observer

P2251 88 Squ 11-May-40 Cpl Albert Charles Collyer 539279 POW WO/AG


K9345 105 Sqn 12-May-40 P/O Tom Hurst 33388 KIA Pilot

K9345 105 Sqn 12-May-40 Sgt William John Anning 525720 KIA Observer

K9345 105 Sqn 12-May-40 LAC Clifford Ronald Wells 551357 KIA WO/AG


P2336 150 Sqn 12-May-40 P/O Ian Campbell-Irons 40603 KIA Pilot

P2336 150 Sqn 12-May-40 Sgt Thomas Roy Barker 580937 KIA Observer

P2336 150 Sqn 12-May-40 LAC Reginald Henry Hinder 551612 KIA WO/AG


K9353 218 Sqn 12-May-40 F/Sgt John Bland Horner 580159 KIA Pilot

K9353 218 Sqn 12-May-40 Sgt Leonard Charles Flisher 564186 KIA Observer


P2193 103 Squ 12-May-40 P/O Edgar Elliott Morton 40635 KIA Pilot

P2193 103 Squ 12-May-40 AC1 Alexander Strachan Ross 61376 KIA WO/AG


L5514 103 Squ 26-May-40 F/Lt James Napier Leyden 39797 POW Pilot

L5514 103 Squ 26-May-40 Sgt Eric George Hayward 564673 KIA Observer

L5514 103 Squ 26-May-40 AC1 William Frank Hubbard 620073 KIA WO/AG


Any assistance or information will be much appreciated.

Kind regards and best wishes for the season.


Iain

[Martin Gleeson]

Iain,

This is a wonderful project and I wish you and the people involved in the Centre-Ardenne area all success for next May. I am sure those events would be well worth attending.

I wish I could help with information on the aircrew but have little or nothing on these brave aircrew, apart from the personal details already on the CWGC website. Have you had access to the relevant AIR 81 files at Kew ? These should provide family addresses and some personal details, possibly going into the 1950s 9for their relatives). I have a copy of the AIR 81 file for one of the above Battles, courtesy of a fellow researcher.
If you wish please PM me or contact me directly at mandkgleeson7 at gmail dot com

Regards,

Martin Gleeson.

[Iain Torrance]

Martin

Many thanks. Yes I have made copies of the AIR 81 files. As you say there are the 1940 addresses of next of kin that we are following up on.

I will email you.

Kind regards

Iain

[Steve Smith]

Hi Iain,

The 218 Association was contacted a month or so ago regarding the two 218 Battle crews, our records show that none of the survivors joined the association or their relatives including that of Horner or Flisher (records go back only to the early 1970's).

We have a few survivors of the period, one aircrew and one ground crew involved with the association. I did manage to provide a decent photo of Horner & Flisher.

I am hoping I can organise a few from 218 to attend, but as the youngest is 93 the odds are against it sadly.

Regards

Steve