W Colhoun - 88/226 Sqn Blenheim/Battle air gunner

[Siko54]

Hi chaps,

Just asking on behalf of a friend who is trying to trace his great uncle, he was known as 'Willie Colhoun' and originally from Belfast. I'm afraid the details are rather sketchy and I've exhausted my internet research ability, hence I thought I'd try the experts.

The only concrete information we have is his name and that he was an air gunner on Battle and subsequently Blenheim bombers, he seems to have served with 88 and 226 Squadrons and during the Battle of France at least and was badly injured after an accident in a Blenheim in which he was the only survivor. He survived the war but I cannot find any record of his service......if anyone can help that would be appreciated.

[andy bird]

Had a quick look through Graham Warners Blenheim papers, and and can't see the gentleman's surname in the crash lists and your probably aware of the below:

Advance Air Striking Force AASF
May 1940 Both 88 and 226 Sqn operating Battles as part of 1 Group Bomber Command.

June 1940 88 and 226 moved to RAF Sydenham, Belfast to re-muster due to heavy losses suffered in France.

1941 226 Sqn converted from Battles to Blenheims at Belfast, then joined 2 Group at Wattisham and carried out first op on 28 June 41

July 1941 88 Sqn moved to Swanton Morley with a mixture of Blenheims and Bostons

July 41 226 remained at Wattisham, with detachments at Manston and Long Kesh. There designated with 18, 82, 88, 110 and 226 Sqn as anti-shipping squadrons

24 July part of the effort on operation Sunrise against German Battle Cruisers.

Highly suggest your friend writes to RAF Cranwell first - search fee of £30.00.

http://www.raf.mod.uk/ahb/recordsofservice/

ACOS Manning (RAF Disclosures)
Trenchard Hall
RAF Cranwell
Lincolnshire
NG34 8HB

Or pull down for a small fee the Squadron ORBs which are on line from the National Archives if you can narrow the timeline down by talking to any other family members or relatives. Alternatively look in the local papers they may have a piece on the crash being a local lad.

http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/h...oks-1939-1945/

Regards

Andy Bird

[Siko54]

Andy,

Many thanks for your comprehensive reply.....it is a bit of a mystery and I was also very surprised not to find anything. I've seen a photo of said gentleman in flying gear so maybe my friend has the wrong aircraft type. He is trying to get more details from his relatives but I guess this one will stay closed for now.

Thanks again for taking the time to look.

[Col Bruggy]

Hello,

Could this be your man?

http://www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/1084721/ Lost 30/31-3-1944 (Nuremberg) No.49 Sqn. Lancaster III JB466

Col.

[Siko54]

Thanks Col, he survived the war so probably not! I've directed my friend to the RAF records as a first port of call. I must admit, a few details from his apparent later part in the war made me wonder.....but truth is certainly stranger than fiction. He does appear to have been aircrew at some stage, but whether he was operational is anyone's guess.

[Martin Gleeson]

Siko54,

I have checked though the 88 and 226 Squadron ORBs and Appendices for 1939-1941 (the Battle and Blenheim periods) and found no trace of this name. I would be very interested to learn more about him too as the Fairey Battle units are a particular area of research for me. 88 Squadron's operations and personnel are the least documented during the Western Campaign of May and June 1940.
Do you know if 'William' was his correct first name or a nickname ?

Regards,

Martin Gleeson.

[paulmcmillan]

How about William Colhoun 537981 ?

Service Numbers issued in series from Oct 1925 Civilians

505001 to 549999


A free search on https://geni.nidirect.gov.uk/search/birth

reveals only 1 William Colhoun registered birth in NI (in 1915) - which indicates a possible match - what would be good would be if any one can provide an estimate when 537981 was issued