Search for missing RAF crew members May 1940.

[fredcompa]

Hello everybody!

Who can help us to reconstruct the crews of the following crashes:

Name pilot Crash date Imm.Nr Age Squad. Remarks
1. Pilot unkn. May,11,1940 2 Sq.Lylander2 Near airfield Le Culot(F), SAFE, Crew rep.safe.

2.Pilot unkn. May 13,1940 17Sq.Hurricane Mk1L-1979LK
Near airfield Le Culot(F), SAFE, Crew rep.safe.

3.Pilot unkn. May 13,1940 87Sq.Hurricane Mk-1L-1979LK
Shot down near Hazebrouck(F) by Me-109.

4.Pilot unkn. May 13,1940 226Sq.Fairey Battle IP-2254MQ, forced land.around Brussels(B).

5. Pilot unkn. May 13,1940 226Sq.Fairey Battle IP-2254MQ, forced land. around Brussels(B)

6.Pilot unkn. May 13,1940 226Sq.Fairey Battle IP-2254MQ, forced land.around Brussels(B).

7.MURDOCH M.F.,pilot May 15,1940 59Sq.BlenheimMK IV L-4859TR- .

8. ???? May 15,1940 59Sq.BlenheimMK IV L-4859TR- .

9.???? May 15,1940 59Sq.BlenheimMK IV L-4859TR- .

10.HANDS Frank May 14,1940 n A.C.1, 616.584, 21 yeras, 59Sq.Blenheim MK IV XD- ,shot down south of ATH(B), MIA (1).

11.??? May 16,1940 Sq.Lysander II

12. GRAY Ian Lowrie,Pilot OFF(pilot) NZL, May 12,1940, 36.188, 21 yeras, 226Sq.Fairey Battle MQ-..of Sq.206, missing up to now, KIA,MIA, Runnym.Panel O..

13. Pilot unkn. May 15,1940, 13Sq. Lysander II,

Thanks for cooperation !
Fedcompa

[Hans Nauta]

Hi again Fred,

P/O Gray was the pilot of Hudson N7353 VX-? Other crew members were:
Sgt M. Moore 565347 RAF
AC1 B. Gill 621946 RAF
LAC R. J. Sloan 517038 RAF

The Hudson took off at 04.45 hrs from Bircham Newton for a Reconnaissance. Shot down north of Baltrum off the coast of Germany by Oblt Emmerich of II(J)TrGr186. Sgt Moore rests in Sage War Cemetery while the other crew men including P/O Gray, a New Zealander from Mount Eden, are commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial.

(Coastal Command Losses 1939-1941 by Ross McNeill)

Regards,
Hans Nauta

[Brian]

Hi Fred

Re your queries:

I can't find a loss for 17 Squadron Hurricane on 13 May, nor 87 Squadron Hurricane for that date.

However, I do have two Hurricanes of 87 Squadron shot down by Bf109s on 12 May - L1970 (Flg Off JA Campbell killed) north of Liege and L1632 Sgt FV Howell baled out north of Liege. Also L1616 of 87 Squadron Plt Off PL Jarvis shot down by Bf109 and crashed west of Maastricht (killed) on 14 May.

The Lysander of 13 Squadron lost on 15 May was L6885.

I should be able to find more information but not for a few days owing to pressure of my own work. Do you have a copy of 'Twelve Days in May'? What is your interest in this period?

Cheers
Brian

[Brian]

Hi Fred

I've been doing so more digging for you and can help with the following, but where have your details come from?

13 May 1940: Battle P2353 of 226 sqn force-landed near Brussels: P/O WM Waddington, Sgt G Stephenson and LAC J. Hope OK Apparently no other losses.

15 May 1940: F/Lt Murdoch was flying L4859 (crew unknown to me)

Let me/us know if this helps, please.

Cheers
Brian