Unkown ATC (?) Pilot July 1945 River Rhine

[hanshauprich]

During my research for an Leutnant from 13./JG 4 (KIA 19.12.44) I was able to get the police records from the city of Lahnstein. There is another
interesting case:

On 3. July 1945 about 09.30h an unkown dead Airman was washed ashore the bank of the Rhine River. The body was no longer then 3 or 4 day in the water. The police officer give this information in the case:

Name: First Officer E.A.D. Kemster

wear blue uniform with an golden wing (Center with an big T), two small golden wire lace on the rangboards.

Is it possible, to get more informations about the peson? Is it an member with the Air Transport Command Contact Carrier Pilot? Was he killed by an
plane crash? Interested is also the fact, that around that time on the bank of the River Rhine near the Hohenzollern Bridge by Koblenz/Rhine was an crash from an multiple engine plane.
Any informations are welcome.

[Amrit1]

There's been a spelling mistake. It looks like it should be Kempster

From the CWGC:

Name: KEMPSTER, ERNEST ARTHUR DAVID
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: First Officer
Regiment/Service: Air Transport Auxiliary
Age: 44
Date of Death: 29/06/1945
Additional information: Son of Walter James Kempster and Florence Ada Kempster, of Leighton Buzzard, Bedfordshire; husband of Hylda Alice Kempster, of Leighton Buzzard.
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: 3. K. 22.
Cemetery: RHEINBERG WAR CEMETERY

[Amrit1]

From the London Gazette:

14 June 1945: (No 37122)

The KING has been graciously pleased, on the occasion of the Celebration of His Majesty's Birthday, to give orders for the publication of the names of the undermentioned in the London Gazette as having been Commended for valuable service in the air: —

First Officer Ernest Arthur David KEMPSTER, Pilot, Air Movements Flight, Air Transport Auxiliary.

[Alex Smart]

Hello,

Along with Kempster was 2nd Officer Harry Race aged 32 .
Aircraft was an Anson serial number DG916 .
Details of crash are in "The Price of Peace" by Colin Cummings.
Route was from Le Bouget to Pilsen. The Anson struck overhead cables strung across the river Rhine and it crashed into the river.

Alex

[hanshauprich]

Thank you very much for this infos, I think there is also an photo from the crashed plane, but I'm not sure on what location it will be halt. Where can I found informations about the uniforms and wings. I have an wing, looks like the standard RAF with an green middle leaf and an F? in it.

[Amrit1]

You may find this site interesting:

http://www.airtransportaux.org/

and I've scanned a picture of their wings: