To which squadrons belonged these FAA men?

[B.F.M. Droog]

Does anyone know to which Fleet Air Arm Squadrons these men belonged?:

1. Leading Airman Richard H. Ritchie, RN FAA/SR.644, H.M.S. Ford [Peregrine = RN Air Station, Ford, Sussex], age 21, 20/05/1940, Dorking Cemetery, UK

2. Leading Airman Cyril A. Chichester, RN FAA/FX. 76379, H.M.S. Kestrel [Fleet Air Arm base at Worthy Down near Winchester], age 23, 24/05/1940, missing

3. Lieutenant Raymond J. Hyland, RN, H.M.S. Daedalus.[Royal Naval Air Station Lee-on-Solent], age 26, 29/05/1940, South Ealing Cemetery, UK - air crash

4. Naval Airman 1st Class George R. Nicholson, RN FAA/FX. 80148, H.M.S. Vulture [RNAS St. Merryn, Cornwall], age 22, 31/05/1940, missing

5. Sub-Lieutenant (A) David K. Marks, RN, H.M.S. Daedalus, age 20, 19/06/1940, Hawarden (St. Deiniol) Churchyard, UK

6. Air Mechanic (E) 2nd Class James O'Brien, RN FX76797, H.M.S. Peregrine [RN Air Station, Ford, Sussex], age 23, 06/06/1940, Arundel Roman Catholic Cemetery, UK

7. Air Fitter (O) John T. Beecroft, RN L/FX79011, [Daedalus II, RN Aircraft Training Establishment, Newcastle under Lyme], age 22, 16/06/1940, Newton (St. Mary) Churchyard, Hyde, UK

[paulmcmillan]

Bart

Are you aware of

http://www.naval-history.net/index.htm

Paul

[Alex Smart]

Hi,

With regards to Chichester.
825Sqn FAA
Lt. North and LAC C.A. Chichester were both killed when their Swordfish "5L" was shot down 5 miles SW of Calais. Target was to attack enemy gun positions in woods sw of Calais during Dunkirk Cover.

Hyland R J
Hawker Hind RAF K6751
1 SFTS Netheravon A/c stalled and dived in 3 miles ENE of Netheravon.

Nicholson G R
S/L J B Marsh and NA1 G R Nicholson were both killed when their Blackburn Skua L2917 was shot down in flames by Bf109's following an attack in the Nieuport area and crashed .
Alex

[B.F.M. Droog]

Alex, Thanks!
And hello Paul,

Yes, I've studied Naval History.net quite a bit. With the help of it I could 'match' most of the FAA casualties I found on the CWGC-site and Lee-on Solent Memorial with the right Squadrons. But with these men Naval History.net couldn't give me the answers I was looking for.

Regards,

Bart

[Alex Smart]

Hello Bart,

As for Marks, there was a Marks with 800 Sqn FAA at this time and he saw action in the Norwegian Campaign.

But could be a different Marks though.

Interesting comment is the "RAF Sqdn" mentioned together with "air crash"
There were seveal crashes on this date of Husons and Blenheims as well as those on ops.
Also a Skua from 801 Sqdn FAA crash landed at Manston on return from ops and Lt. Collett was wounded, no mention of other crewmember.
Blenheim L1471 from 5 OTU had its props hit a sandbank in the Severn and its engine cut out it crash landed and the tide broke up the aircraft near Woolaston, Gloster.

An Anson N5067 from 608 Sqdn hit HT Cables on high ground in bad visibility and overturned 4 miles from Guisborough, N Yorks. this was on the 16th but her crew are reported to have DOW on the 19th.

Alex

[B.F.M. Droog]

Hello Alex,

I've got this on the 608 Sqduadron crash:
Type: Avro Anson I
Serial number: N5067, UL-L
Operation: ?
Lost: 16/06/1940
P/O Duncan. Injured
Sergeant (Pilot) Leslie B. Walpole, RAFVR 745085, 608 Sqdn., age 22, 19/06/1940, Castle Bromwich (SS. Mary and Margaret) Churchyard, UK
In bad visibility, the aircraft hit high-tension cables and crashed near Brotten. Sgt Walpole died of wounds.

If Sub Lieutenant David Marks was the unknown crew member of the Skua of 801 Squadron, would his name not have been mentioned with the name of the known injured crew member?

Regards,

Bart

[Alex Smart]

Hi Bart,

I can only suggest that with the Anson, Walpole may not have been the only occupant.
And as for the 801 Skua, if the name of the second man was unknown then it is quite possible theat it may or may not have been Marks.
And as the other three - Ritchie, O'Brien and Beecroft - have "Died" this could mean that they died from injuries received or natural causes.
Alex

[B.F.M. Droog]

Hello Alex,

Thanks. Do you maybe have any idea if FAA and RAF personnel were 'mixed up' on planes? If not, then the 801 Squadron Skua seems the most likely possibility.

Regards,

Bart

[B.F.M. Droog]

Sub Lt. Marks was not an occupant of the Avro Anson N5067. These men were:

Pilot - Sgt Leslie B Walpole RAFVR, DOW
Pilot - P/O B Duncan RAF, injured.
? - Sgt O Shepherd RAF, injured.
? - AC George E Lumley RAF, injured.

Source: Aircraft crashes on and around the North Yorkshire Moors

[Amrit1]

Wednesday, 19 June
S/Lt (A) D. K. Marks, who had been lent to the RAF, was killed when his Hurricane of 7 OTU crashed near Brynford, Holywell.

http://naval-history.net/xDKWW2-4006-19JUN03.htm