Plt/Off
John Grahame Toplis
Plt/Off John Grahame Toplis, 61483, Pilot, Royal Air Force Volunteer
Reserve, Nationality : United Kingdom, KIA 12 May 1941, Aged 20
SEE
CREWS AND LOSSES for Wellington Mark I C R1462 BU-?
Born in Olton, Birmingham
Buried in HAMBURG
CEMETERY. Reference : 5A. F. 15.
Son of Harold and Henrietta Toplis, of Olton, Birmingham.
P/O Toplis took over his crew from P/O Jack Wetherly who had completed his
tour in March 1941, second-pilot Pilot Officer was Ian Lawson, sergeant
navigator Nigel Walker, wireless operator Sergeant Hubert Barr and gunners
Sergeant Albert Livsey and Pilot Officer Duncan Pockney. Wellington R1462
missing from operations to Hamburg 12 May 1941. Pockney and Walker were
not with
them at this time. Walker was on leave prior to being commissioned.
Source : Christopher
Jary - Author and Ian Hunt and CWGC
Date record last updated : 13 February 2008
Sgt John L Tomkinson
He gave his all for you and us, His
Loving Mum and Dad, Brother,
Sister and Uda.
Sgt John L Tomkinson, 701366, Age 22 Wireless Operator Air Gunner. Wellington IC N2746 , BU-M took off at 20:00 from Stradishall, Suffolk on a raid to Hamburg on 13 March 1941 ( 13/03/1941 ). The aircraft captained by Sgt. Elder was shot down over the Netherlands by a German nightfighter shortly after 23:00 and crashed near city of Groningen. The nose gunner Sgt Douglas Wilmott Waters survived and became a POW, the rest were KIA. They are buried at the Esserveld cemetery, Groningen. Most are buried in communal graves, some with members of another crew which crashed in the vicinity on the same night.
Crew of N2746 coded BU-M consisted of:
Sgt Alexander
G. Elder - pilot9999
Sgt Victor L Bagley - 2nd pilot
Sgt George C Daniel - air gunner
Sgt Sol Glazer (NZ) - Observer
Sgt John L Tomkinson - wireless operator
Sgt Douglas Wilmott Waters
A picture of the German fighter pilot (Ofw. Gildner) and his wireless operator, inspecting the wreck of Elder's Wellington has been located by Stevin Oudshoorn (see below).
SOURCE & RESEARCH: Very kindly submitted Stevin Oudshoorn. See Stevin's website for further information on all aircraft lost over the Netherlands.
Plt/Off Leonard Treppass
Plt/Off
Leonard Treppass, Service No: 108005. Nationality: United Kingdom, Rank:
Pilot Officer (Obs.) Regiment: Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, Unit : 214
Sqdn., Age: 29, Date of Death: 07/06/1942
Additional information: Son of George and Gertrude Treppass, of Erdington, Birmingham.
Commonwealth War Dead Grave/Memorial Reference: Grave 50. Cemetery: VLIELAND GENERAL CEMETERY
On the night of June 6/7, 1942 Stirling N3761 piloted by F/Lt Turtle failed to return from an attack on Emden. None of the crew survived.
The crew of Stirling N3761were as follows:
TREPPASS, LEONARD L.
RAFVR United Kingdom
Rank: Pilot Officer (Obs.)
108005
|
BARHAM, WILFRED W
RAFVR United Kingdom
Flight Sergeant (W.Op./Air Gnr.)
755880
|
HARRISON, NORMAN N
RAFVR United Kingdom
Flight Lieutenant
116554
|
HOLDSWORTH, JOHN BARRY J B
RAFVR United Kingdom
Pilot Officer
115722
|
CARDINAL, BARRIE PHILLIP B P
RCAFCanada
Pilot Officer (Air Gnr.)
J/7197
|
MARKS, EDWARD MICHAEL E M
RCAF Canada
Pilot Officer - Air Gunner
J/15139
|
SCOTT, ALLAN RANDALL A R
RAF United Kingdom
Sergeant (Flt. Engr.)
573717
|
TURTLE, REGINALD WILLIAM ARTHUR
RAF United Kingdom
P/O (pilot)
40866
|
SOURCE & RESEARCH: Kate Brettell
Sgt B D Taggart
Sgt B
D Taggart (214 FMS) Sqn. temporary duty with 161 Sqn) out of RAF Tempsford.
No further details as yet. A family member, Wayne Taggart has been found but
no contact established yet.
FS
Francis Alexander Tait
FS
Francis Alexander Tait, R/70913, Royal Canadian Air Force, Nationality
: Canadian, KIA 28 January 1942, Aged 19
SEE
CREWS AND LOSSES for Wellington Mark I C X9890 BU-F
Named on the following Memorial : Runnymede Memorial Panel 107
Son of Roy and Madelena Tait, of Dilke, Saskatchewan, Canada.
On 18 October 1941 Sgt F A Tait was posted to 214sqn from 230 TU Pershore
KIA on operations over Germany.
See W/O
Harry Ward's memoirs for 26 January 1942 for his recollections of
F/S Francis Tait.
Source
: CWGC and Colin Burningham and ORB for 23OTU Pershore
Date record last updated : 14 September 2008
Fg/Off Tom H Tate
Fg/Off Tom H Tate,
Special Wireless Operator, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, Nationality
: United Kingdom, Date taken POW 15 March 1945, POW number None
SEE
CREWS AND LOSSES for Flying Fortress Mark II HB779 BU-K
SEE PRISONERS OF WAR
Tom Tate, the 26-year-old survivor of a remarkable 44 sorties and with
his 45th almost completed, could not know that his luck was about to
be tested once again.
Tom Tate remembers the order: 'Bale out! Bale out!' He obeyed, hurling
himself into the rushing darkness. Above him, the aircraft flew on.
He drifted in the inky blackness unsure whether he was even descending.
'Everything was dead still,' he recalls. 'There was no movement, no
sensation, no lights. Suddenly there was this mass of earth rushing
up towards me.' He landed safely and, after blundering about for half
an hour, bumped into a fellow crew-member Norman Bradley. Together they
set course west. It proved a short journey. At the very first village
they came to, they were surrounded by local people and hauled off to
a nearby interrogation centre.
For all of Thursday and most of Friday, Tate was interrogated by German
forces in a perfectly acceptable fashion. As well as Bradley, five other
crew members had also been captured and the next day the seven men were
transported under armed guard en route for a prison camp. The journey
was to take them through a town called Pforzheim, which three weeks
earlier had been the target of a devastating raid by Bomber Command.
Tom Tate would never forget his first sight of Pforzheim. The town lay
in a valley. When the RAF men looked down on what had once been a thriving
community of some 70,000 souls, all they could see was ruins. 'It was
no more than a pile of rubble,' Tate remembers in awed tones. According
to official records, a huge force of Lancasters and Mosquitoes had dropped
1,825 tons of bombs on Pforzheim in just 22 minutes, causing a firestorm
that destroyed more than 80 per cent of the town's built-up area and
killed at least 17,000 people. Many died in their cellars, when their
lungs burst with the intense heat. Although Tom Tate's crew had not
taken part in the raid, his shock at this ghastly evidence of the bombers'
capacity for destruction was immense. He was certainly not surprised
when some of the surviving townsfolk, catching sight of the prisoners'
RAF uniforms, began stoning them furiously with the rubble that lay
at their feet. If it wasn't for the armed guards defending them from
the onslaught, all seven men might have been killed there and then.
As it was, they reached the neighbouring viIlage of Huchenfeld, where
they were billeted for the night in a boiler room filled with heaps
of coal. They were given buckets of water. Tom Tate was exhausted and
after he had removed his boots to wash his feet and socks, he lay back
on the coal and was instantly asleep.
The next thing he knew, he was being violently dragged up the iron staircase
out of the cellar. A gang of young men hauled him and his fellow prisoners
along the street. Their captors were dressed in ordinary civilian clothes,
but there was a menacing air about them and they were evidently in a
state of high excitement. 'Then someone hit me on the head,' Tate says.
'Blood flowed. God, I thought, this is lynching.' The mob now turned
right taking their captives toward the church. Increasingly alarmed,
Tate noticed a barn with a huge pair of doors. Inside in one of them
was a small door, which was open. An electric light burned inside. And
it was then that Tate saw something that froze his heart: a stout beam
from which hung several heavy ropes. I saw those ropes and that instant
my imagination told me we were going to be hanged, he remembers. Driven
by fear of his imminent execution at the hands of a baying mob his instinct
for survival kicked in.
Bursting free from his captors, he ran like mad in his bare feet, back
up the road. It was a spontaneous action, and it saved Tate's life.
One shot was fired alter him, but he ducked down past some houses, raced
across a field and plunged into the nearby woods.
Luck was with him. Most of the trees in the area were pines, difficult
to hide among, but by chance he had found a copse of oaks, whose leaves
lay thickly on the ground. With the Instinct of a wild animal, and without
even thinking what he was doing, he burrowed under the leaves until
he was hidden from sight.
For a while he lay awake, troubled by a sudden burst of gunfire he had
heard coming from the village, wondering what had become of his comrades.
Then he fell asleep. Tom Tate awoke in his leaf-mould bed at dawn on
Sunday. By lunchtime he had been recaptured. But now, at least, he was
in the hands of the German Army, not the dangerous youths of the night
before.
He spent the remainder of the war as a PoW - much of it in horrendous
conditions. For weeks he was on the road with thousands of other, near-starving
men, mostly Russians, as the Germans retreated from the advancing Allied
forces. But he survived. Amazingly, so did four other members of the
Flying Fortress crew who had been on board that fateful night.
A year later, in June 1946, Tom Tate and Norman Bradley returned to
Germany as witnesses in the war crimes trials against 22 men and youths
who had taken part in the killings.
The five murdered airmen are remembered at The RAFA Ely Cambs Branch
Memorial Rose Garden situated at what used to be the RAF Hospital there.
(now the NHS Princess of Wales Hospital).
Tom Tate attended the dedication ceremony which was held in 1999.
Tom Tate's final log book entry showing the ill fated flight
(click on the image for a larger view)
Tom Tate with Frau Beck-Ehninger in the RAFA Memorial Garden of Princess
of Wales hospital Ely 29 Sept 2005
(click
on the image for a larger view)
Tom Tate with the 214 Squadron book of remembrance at Ely Cathedral
Source : Tom
Tate & Carol & John Edwards (family connection to Flt/Lt Sidney C Matthews)
and "Footprints on the sands of time" by Oliver Clutton-Brock and various
news articles and Reg Kemp (nephew of Harold Frost)
Date record last updated : 10 July 2009
Sgt Albert Edward Taylor
Taken in November 1939 at Sway in Hampshire, when Albert
enlisted
Sgt Albert Edward
Taylor, 906563, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, Nationality : United
Kingdom, KIA 23 November 1940
SEE
CREWS AND LOSSES for Wellington Mark I C T2471 BU-?
Named on the following Memorial : Runnymede Memorial Panel 20
Son of Arthur Jessie and Lillian Maude Taylor, of Sway, Hampshire.
All crew members were reported missing, and subsequently listed as KIA .
The notes just say: "Lost without trace". It's therefore quite
likely that the crew were either shot down over the sea or otherwise had
to ditch into it.
Source : Frances
Joan Taylor (sister of Sgt Albert Taylor) and Richard Williams and Ian Hunt
and W R Chorley's book 'RAF Bomber Command Losses 1939-1940' and CWGC and
Nightjar Newsletter Spring 2006
Date record last updated : 27 July 2010
Flt/Lt W H Taylor
Flt/Lt
W H Taylor, F/Lt Taylor's crew as recorded on their first 5 ops entries
listed in the ORB seem to give the crew as:-
F/Lt J W Lucas
F/Lt W H Taylor
F/O N W Manners
F/Sgt R Jeffcock
W/O S C Hopkins
Sgt W C Heley (spelt Healey in the first entry but Heley in the next four)
F/Sgt J Parkinson
Sgt C W Pearson
Sgt J Burchell
This crew seems to be listed consistently in this order in the ORB, although it doesn't give their individual crew functions. HOWEVER, the tenth crew member (possibly the jamming equipment Special Operator?) changed a bit over the first 5 ops.
- Firstly it was Sgt J S Reid (1st op);
- then F/O W E Gronau RCAF (2nd op);
- then Sgt C Kerr (next 3 ops).
It may be that this was how the crew settled down to be (ie with Kerr).
SOURCE &
RESEARCH: Ian Hunt
Sgt Taylor
Sgt Taylor,
The crew of R1614, coded BU-? failed to return from operations on the night of July 14, 1941.
( 14/07/1941 )
P/O Brown
Sgt Collins
Sgt Taylor
Sgt Else
Sgt Hall ?
???
July 14 / 15, 1941 ( 14/07/1941 ) four aircraft R1613, R1614, R1341 and T2913 left Stradishall on operations. Of the four aircraft sent by 214 Squadron this night, two returned to base which ultimately saved them from the disaster that lay ahead. R1341 piloted by P/O Guild returned claiming bad weather and icing conditions and the aircraft would not climb. T2913 piloted by Sgt Gwilliam returned claiming engine trouble. The remaining two R1613 piloted by P/O Crampton and R1614 piloted by P/O Brown continued on to the target but never returned.
SOURCE
& RESEARCH: Ian Hunt, extracted from Operations record book, PRO
Sgt R H Thom
Sgt
R H Thom, RNZAF, Shot down in raid on Berlin 01/03/1943 and taken prisoner.
Crew were:
F/S J.M. Lyall prisoner RCAF
Sgt N.G. Etherden prisoner RAF
F/O B.F.R Hotson killed RNZAF
Sgt D.B Scoble prisoner RNZAF
Sgt R.H Thom prisoner RNZAF
Sgt J.G Jack prisoner RAF
Sgt J.G
Powell prisoner
RAF
Sgt B L Tillotson
Sgt
B L Tillotson
In de nacht van 9 op 10 mei voerden 146 bommenwerpers - 69 Wellingtons, 42 Whitley's, 24 Hampdens en 11 Manchesters - van Bomber Command een succesvolle aanval uit op de tweelingsteden Mannheim en Ludwigshafen. Zware schade werd onder meer toegebracht aan 22 fabrieken en elf spoorwagons, geladen met industriële brandstoffen, brandden volledig uit. Twee bommenwerpers - een Wellington en een Whitley - gingen verloren.
Wellington Mk.1C (R1447) van No.214 squadron - om 22.26 uur gestart van Stradishall - werd door een Duitse nachtjager neergeschoten waarna de machine nabij Woensdrecht neerstortte. De zes bemanningsleden slaagden erin om zich tijdig in veiligheid te brengen en werden (uiteinde-lijk) allemaal in krijgsgevangenschap afgevoerd.
Plt.Off. I.K. Woodroffe pow
Sgt. H.Barnes pow
Sgt. J.R. Fry RNZAF pow
Sgt. H. Gillies pow
Sgt. B.L. Tillotson pow
SOURCE
& RESEARCH: Wim de Meester
FS R A J Trevillian
Sgt Frederick 'Tommy' Trinder
Sgt
Frederick 'Tommy' Trinder, Mid Upper Gunner, Royal Air Force, Nationality
: British
SEE
CREWS AND LOSSES for Stirling (model unknown) ??Shattock
Served with 214 from 28 February 1943 to 29 July 1943. The crew were based
at Chedburgh, Suffolk flying Stirlings.
See Stories and Tall Tales ("N" for nuts section) for a story written
by Flt/Lt Wallace about one of the crews Ops over Germany when their Stirling
was shot up by another Stirling injuring the pilot Geoff Shattock
Source
: Dave Wallace, son of Flt/Lt A. Wallace
Date record last updated : 12 September 2008
Sgt 'Frank' Francis Godfrey 'Lucky' Truscott
Sgt Francis
'Frank' Godfrey 'Lucky' Truscott,
1168521, Wireless Operator / Air Gunner, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve,
Nationality : Canadian, KIA 28 January 1942, Aged 23
SEE CREWS
AND LOSSES for Wellington Mark I C X9890 BU-F
Named on the following Memorial : Runnymede Memorial Panel 95
Born 28 June 1917
Son of Lewis Alexander Truscott and of Kate Evelyn Truscott (nee Foulds), of
Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Truscott attended Kew Beach and Norway public schools and Riverdale High. He
was an active member of Kew Beach United church young men's bible class and
was both a ski enthusiast, and had belonged to the Fairmount Cycle club. Prior
to the war he had worked for a radiator company. He has two brothers Osmond
and Jarvis, and four sisters, Mrs. Clifford Williams, Mrs. Baden Powell, Mrs.
William Brown and Mrs. Harry Elmer.
See
W/O
Harry Ward's memoirs for 26 January 1942 for
his recollections of Sgt Francis Truscott.
Sgt Frank
Truscott back row, first on left. It is unknown where this picture was taken
but it is obviously prior to his Sgt stripes and they are wearing an unusual
arm patch. It is my guess it was taken at an OTU somewhere in England near or
upon graduation as a Wireless Operator, note none are sporting the Air Gunners
badge yet either.
WEDDING ANNIVERSARY
SAD AS SON IS LISTED MISSING
Sgt. Frank Truscott went to England on Tanker to Join R.A.F.
ANOTHER IS
KILLED
Yesterday was the 41st wedding anniversary of Mr. And Mrs. L.A. Truscott, Woodbine
Ave., and they eagerly awaited a cablegrom of congratulations from their son,
Sergt. Frank G. Truscott. He was overseas, a wireless air-gunner with the R.A.F
in England. They received a cable but instead of congratulations, it advised
them their son is reported missing after air operations Jan. 28. Sergt Truscott
has been on operations with the bomber command since October, 1940. He went
to England in June of that year, working his way across on an oil tanker. His
parents were unaware of his intention to join the R.A.F. Until he wrote them
saying he had been accepted. As soon as war broke out, he enlisted in the York
Rangers, a unit which at that time was not mobilized,. Prompted by a desire
for action, he obtained permission of his O.C. To quit to go to England. Typifying
his "happy-go-lucky" spirit is the last letter the family received
from him. In the middle he interrupted to say: " I'll have to stop now.
Got an operation to do." Later he continued the letter adding "Well
now I can go on. Just did a trip over Germany."
NOTE: After quitting the Rangers, crossing the Ocean to England of his own arrangements
and a year of intensive training, Frank looks justifiably proud sporting his
new flight suit. The photo caption reads: Happy Landings, Love Frank. Note how
much he has aged since his cadet photo at the top of his profile.
SGT. LUCKY TRUSCOTT IS LISTED AS MISSING
Wireless Air Gunner Mentioned in 117th London Casualty Report
Sergt. Frank Godfrey "Lucky" Truscott, 23-year old wireless air gunner
with the R.A. F. Has been listed as missing in the 117th casualty list issued
by the air ministry in London. A Toronto boy, his mother, Mrs. L.A. Truscott,
Woodbine Ave., said she had received a letter yesterday from her son's squadron
leader, saying that his bomber had not returned. Truscott had tried to join
the R.A.F. At 17, and in April 1940 went to England aboard a tanker and enlisted
with the R.A.F.. He had been bombing Germany since July 1941. He attended Norway
public school and Riverdale High and had worked for a radiator company. He was
a ski enthusiast, and had belonged to the Fairmount Cycle club. His parents
last heard from him one week after (illegible).
Source :
Andrea Muzzi of Toronto Ontario Canada. (Neice to Sgt Truscott, grandaughter
of Heloise - Franks sister) and Wendy Truscott relative
Date record last updated : 8 June 2009
Flt/Lt Reginald William A Turtle DFC
Flt/Lt
Reginald William Arthur Turtle DFC (40866) On the
night of June 6/7, 1942 ( 06/06/1942 ) F/Lt Turtle piloting Stirling N3761
failed to return from an attack on Emden. His body was was washed up on a
Frisian island called Schiermonnikoog. None of the crew survived.
Reginald moved to (from ?) 149 Squadron in May 1942. The following Stirling operations with 214 Squadron which he captained (as recovered from the PRO by his niece Kate Bretrell) were as follows:
29 - 30/05/1942 W7538 Atacked Gnome Rhone works up 00.30 down 05.30
31/05/1942 W7538 Attacked Cologne up 23.05 down 03.05
3 - 04/06/1942 R9317 Attacked Bremen up 23.30 down 02.15
6- 07/06/1942 N3761 F/Lt Turtle and crew failed to return from an attack on Emden.
____________________________________________________________________________
SUPPLEMENT TO THE LONDON GAZETTE, 27 JULY, 1943
Air Ministry, 27th July, 1943. ( 27/07/1943 ) ROYAL AIR FORCE. The KING has been graciously pleased to approve the following awards: -Distinguished Flying Cross Acting Flight Lieutenant Reginald William Arthur TURTLE (40866), No. 214 Squadron (deceased), awarded with effect from 9th June, 1942.
_____________________________________________________________________________
The crew of Stirling N3761were as follows:
TREPPASS, LEONARD L.
RAFVR United Kingdom
Rank: Pilot Officer (Obs.)
108005
|
BARHAM, WILFRED W
RAFVR United Kingdom
Flight Sergeant (W.Op./Air Gnr.)
755880
|
HARRISON, NORMAN N
RAFVR United Kingdom
Flight Lieutenant
116554
|
HOLDSWORTH, JOHN BARRY J B
RAFVR United Kingdom
Pilot Officer
115722
|
CARDINAL, BARRIE PHILLIP B P
RCAFCanada
Pilot Officer (Air Gnr.)
J/7197
|
MARKS, EDWARD MICHAEL E M
RCAF Canada
Pilot Officer - Air Gunner
J/15139
|
SCOTT, ALLAN RANDALL A R
RAF United Kingdom
Sergeant (Flt. Engr.)
573717
|
TURTLE, REGINALD WILLIAM ARTHUR
RAF United Kingdom
P/O (pilot)
40866
|
SOURCE
& RESEARCH: Kate Brettell, family of F/Lt Turtle. Kate has been tirelessly
researching the crew of N3761 and has retrieved information from an
astonishing number of sources, from the National Archives Canada, The PRO,
England, CWGC, The 214 Squadron Association, family, and the list goes
on. In fact some of the results of her research have even in fact been used
to update the Squadron Association records. BRAVO KATE ! and a warm thanks
from all the families of the 214.
FS
Tommy Taylor
FS
Tommy Taylor
FS Tommy Taylor, Air Gunner, Royal Air Force, Nationality : United Kingdom
SEE CREWS AND LOSSES for Stirling (model unknown) ??Scantleton
Is listed as a member of Scantleton's crew on return of operational aircrew
dated 31 August 1944
Source : John Scantleton (son of Flt/Lt
V L Scantleton) and George Mackie
Date record last updated : 4 August 2009
A P
Taylor
He was an armourer on Wellingtons but did not fly. A P Taylor is on the left
of the photograph above. If anybody recognises the other person, please email
the site administrators.
Source
: Eric Gillies grandson of A P Taylor
Plt/Off
Richard William Towell
Plt/Off
Richard William Towell, Non Com 977635 Com 195111, Air Bomber, Royal
Air Force Volunteer Reserve, Nationality : United Kingdom, KIA 24 February
1945, Aged 30
Born in Dublin, Ireland
SEE
CREWS AND LOSSES for Flying Fortress Mark III HB805 BU-C
Buried in RHEINBERG
WAR CEMETERY. Reference : 6.E.24
Son of William John and Maud Kathleen Towell; husband of Margaret Ruth Towell,
of Leigh-on-Sea, Essex.
Richard was an accountant with the Alliance Gas Company in Dublin when he
joined up, and at some time he played rugby for Leinster and was awarded
2 caps.
15 EFTS Carlisle England in Jan / Feb 1942
35 EFTS Neepawa Canada in April 1942 after which he discontinued his pilot
training and went to
31 B & G Picton Canada to train as Air Bomber
Richard Towell was involved in a crash on takeoff, he was flying with WO
Gallop both at Chedburgh and Tempsford during 1943 - he broke his shoulder
and arm and was admitted to Hospital for the first time on 11 December 1943.
He was non effective for most of 1944 as he was in and out of hospital and
in plaster. It was in January 1945 that he first joined Fg/Off Shorttle's
crew.
On 25 February 1945 Mrs Towell received a telegram from the Squadron advising
that her husband was missing. She also received a letter from Squadron Leader
B D Davies advising her that her husband was missing from air operations
On 1 March 1945 Mrs Towell received a letter from the Pardre, Sidney H Price,
offering his sympathy and support as her husband was missing.
On 10 March 1945 Mrs Towell received a letter from the Air Ministry confirming
that her husband was missing from air operations
On 30 March 1945 Mrs Towell received a letter from the Air Ministry advising
that her husband was to be re-commissioned from Warrant Officer to Pilot
Officer (on probation) with effect from 5 February 1945.
On 8 August 1945 Mr Ward (father-in-law of Plt/Off Towell) received a letter
from the Air Ministry stating that all of the crew, except for WO Jennings
and Flt/Lt Fowler had perished in a crash. Flt/Lt Fowler was believed to
have died in hospital later. The body of the pilot, Fg/Off Shortle, had
been found and was buried on 7 May 1945 at No 1 cemetery Ittenbach Germany.
On 20 August 1946 Mrs Towell received a letter from the Air Ministry explaining
exactly what had happened to the crew.
"The aircraft crashed at about 9pm on 24 February 1945 in a field on
the Viersen-Anrath Road near the Niers Canal. Your husband's body was found
on the Viersen side of the canal with two others, and they were all laid
to rest in the cemetery at Viersen, which is approximately 4 miles north,
north west of Munchen Gladbach. Your husband lies in grave no 18, block
19. The bodies of the remaining unaccounted for members of
the crew were found on the other side of the canal and were buried in the
cemetery at Neersen."
On 15 September 1947 Mrs Towell received a letter from the Air Ministry
explaining that her husband's body had been re-interred at Rheinberg Military
Cemetery, 23 miles north, north east of Dusseldorf.
Source
: CWGC and Ian Hunt and Beryl Hutchinson (daughter)
Date record last updated : 13 September 2009
Sgt
William Hedley Trotter, Air Gunner, 1128255, Royal Air Force Volunteer
Reserve, Nationality : United Kingdom. KIA 5 March 1943 aged 31.
He was posted to 214 Squadron on 31 December 1942.
SEE
CREWS AND LOSSES for Stirling Mark III BK662 BU-K
Son of William and Dorothy Ann Trotter, of South Shields, Co. Durham.
Buried at TEXEL
(DEN BURG) CEMETERY. Reference : Plot K. Row 2. Grave 40
Son of William and Dorothy Ann Trotter, of South Shields, Co. Durham.
He was posted to 214 Squadron on 31 December 1942.
The letter and a photo that his parents received from the Air Ministry
showing the temporary cross marking his grave
Source
: Richard Trotter (nephew) and CWGC
Date record last updated : 13 July 2010
Sgt
William Taylor
Sgt
William Taylor, 1458100, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, Nationality
: United Kingdom. KIA 5 March 1943.
See
CREWS AND LOSSES for Stirling Mk3 BK662 BU-K
Named on the RUNNYMEDE MEMORIAL. Panel 166.
Source
: Nightjar
Newsletter and CWGC.
Sgt
James Cheyne Todd
Sgt
James Cheyne Todd, 657154, Air Bomber, Nationality : United Kingdom, Date
taken POW 22 September 1943, POW number 526
SEE
CREWS AND LOSSES for Stirling Mark I EF393 BU-R
Imprisoned at POW camp Heydekrug (Silute), Lithuania
Imprisoned at POW camp Thorn (Torun), Poland OR Oerbke (Fallingbostel),
Germany - dates unknown
SEE
PRISONERS OF WAR
Source
: Nightjar Newsletter and Alan Todd (son of James Cheyne Todd) and CWGC
and "Footprints on the sands of time" by Oliver Clutton-Brock
and John Fowler
Date record last updated : 5 August 2009
Sgt
Turner
Sgt
Turner.
See
CREWS AND LOSSES for Wellington MK1C T2841 BU-K
Source
:
Nightjar Newsletter.
WO
Phil N R Troutbeck
WO Phil N R Troutbeck , Bomb Aimer, Royal Australian Air Force
, Nationality : Australian.
SEE
CREWS AND LOSSES for Flying Fortress Mark III HB803 (06 October 1944)
BU-L
SEE
CREWS AND LOSSES for Flying Fortress (model unknown) HB819 (14 February
1945) BU-U
Although he was a Bomb Aimer, the Fortress did not carry bombs so
his role was changed to help out with Navigation / Observation / Jamming
equipment.
Source
: Ian Hunt and Angus Cameron
Date record last updated : 18 June 2008
Sgt
John Peter Taylor
Sgt
John Peter Taylor, 1434892, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve,
Nationality : United Kingdom, KIA 3 August 1943, Aged 21
SEE
CREWS AND LOSSES for Stirling Mark III EF409 BU-V
Named on the following Memorial : Runnymede Memorial Panel 166.
Son of George John Williams Taylor and Kathleen Ann Taylor, of Brighton,
Sussex.
Source
: CWGC
Date record last updated : 11 February 2008
Sgt
George Ingate Taylor
Sgt
George Ingate Taylor, 643077, Royal Air Force, Nationality : United
Kingdom, KIA 12 February 1942, Aged 22
SEE
CREWS AND LOSSES for Wellington Mark I C Z1081 BU-B
Named on the following Memorial : Runnymede Memorial Panel 94
Son of George William and Gertrude Alice Taylor, of Starston, Norfolk.
Source
: CWGC and Nightjar Newsletter Winter / Spring 2005
Date record last updated : 21 February 2008
Plt/Off
J A Temperley
Plt/Off
J A Temperley
SEE
CREWS AND LOSSES for Wellington Mark I C L7849
Was rescued from aircraft when it came down in the North Sea off the
Norfolk coast.
Source
: Nightjar Newsletter Winter / Spring 2006
Date record last updated : 21 February 2008
Fg/Off
'Tommy' Thomas
Fg/Off
'Tommy' Thomas, Bomb Aimer
SEE
CREWS AND LOSSES for Flying Fortress Mark II SR386 BU-N
Source
: Gerhard Heilig
Date record last updated : 8 March 2008
Sgt
Bruce Taggart
Sgt
Bruce Taggart, Mid Upper Gunner, Royal Canadian Air Force, Nationality
: Canadian
SEE
CREWS AND LOSSES for Stirling (model unknown) ??Mackett
Deceased Nova Scotia 2003?
Source
: Robert Mackett
Date record last updated : 8 March 2008
WO
Taylor
WO
Taylor, Waist Gunner
SEE
CREWS AND LOSSES for Flying Fortress (model unknown) SR378 BU-D
Is listed on Battle Orders for 22 August 1944.
Is also listed on returning operational aircrew on 31 August 1944
Source
: George Mackie
Date record last updated : 28 July 2008
Flt/Lt
Elwin Lancy 'Tommy' Thomas
Flt/Lt
Elwin Lancy 'Tommy' Thomas, 3518774, Air Electronics Officer
SEE
CREWS AND LOSSES for Victor Mark I - 3 point tanker XA936
Source
: Tom Robson
Date record last updated : 23 January 2010
Sgt
Frederick Arthur William Thorne
Sgt Frederick Arthur William Thorne,
550874, Royal Air Force, Nationality : United Kingdom, KIA 24 July
1942, Aged 22
SEE
CREWS AND LOSSES for Stirling Mark I W7567 BU-S
Buried in WERKENDAM
PROTESTANT CEMETERY. Reference : Row 8. Grave 4.
Son of Frederick Arthur and Kathleen Jeanette Thorne; husband of Elsie
Thorne.
Source
: CWGC and Nightjar Newsletter Autumn 2004
Date record last updated : 16 May 2009
FS
A J Tyrrell
FS
A J Tyrrell, Rear Gunner, Royal Air Force, Nationality : United
Kingdom, Date taken POW 12 March 1943, POW number 27746
SEE
CREWS AND LOSSES for Stirling Mark III BF469 BU-M
Imprisoned at POW camp Lamsdorf (Lambinowice), Germany - from 1943,
was previously Stalag 8B
Imprisoned at POW camp Lamsdorf (Lambinowice), Germany - until 1943
when it became Stalag 344
SEE PRISONERS OF WAR
Source
: Nightjar Newsletter Spring 2004 and "Footprints on the sands
of time" by Oliver Clutton-Brock
Date record last updated : 9 August 2009
LACW
Winifred Elizabeth Tomlinson
LACW Winifred Elizabeth Tomlinson, 2080896, Women's Royal Air
Force, Nationality : British
Born 3 January 1924
Born in Stone, Staffordshire
Balloon Operator, then MT Driver - RAF Sculthorpe, RAF Oulton, amongst
other roles.
Source
: Anne Cheung (daughter)
Date record last updated : 13 July 2009
Sgt
Laurence Charles Tillin
Sgt
Laurence Charles Tillin, 1186959, Wireless Operator / Air Gunner,
Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, Nationality : United Kingdom, KIA
17 September 1942, Aged 28
SEE
CREWS AND LOSSES for Stirling Mark I R9350 BU-T
Buried in HEVERLEE
WAR CEMETERY. Reference : 2. J. 5.
Son of Ambrose James Tillin and Elizabeth Carolina Tillin, of Woolston,
Southampton; husband of Ruth Marion Tillin, of Verwood, Dorset.
Source
: CWGC and Nightjar Newsletter Spring 2004
Date record last updated : 15 July 2009
Sgt
William Charles Thomas
Sgt
William Charles Thomas, 1331876, Wireless Operator / Air Gunner,
Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, Nationality : United Kingdom, KIA
22 September 1943, Aged 22
SEE
CREWS AND LOSSES for Stirling Mark I EF393 BU-R
Buried in HANOVER
WAR CEMETERY. Reference : 12. B. 10.
Son of Robert George and Florence Mary Thomas, of West Ham, Essex.
Source
: CWGC and John Fowler
Date record last updated : 5 August 2009
Sgt
Gilbert Ernest Turner
Sgt
Gilbert Ernest Turner, 745245, Pilot, Royal Air Force Volunteer
Reserve, Nationality : United Kingdom, KIA 5 November 1940, Aged 23
SEE
CREWS AND LOSSES for Wellington Mark I C T2470 (5 November 1940) BU-K
Buried in CLEETHORPES
CEMETERY. Reference : Sec. B.B. Grave K.22.
Son of Samuel and Amy Beatrice Turner, of Cleethorpes.
Source
: CWGC and Chorley
Date record last updated : 27 September 2009
Sgt
Kennedy Tait
Sgt
Kennedy Tait, 974125, Wireless Operator / Air Gunner, Royal Air
Force Volunteer Reserve, Nationality : United Kingdom, KIA 9 May 1941,
Aged 20
SEE
CREWS AND LOSSES for Wellington (model unknown) ??Eddison
SEE
CREWS AND LOSSES for Wellington Mark I C R1226 BU-L
Buried in BERGEN-OP-ZOOM
WAR CEMETERY. Reference : 32. C. 2.
Son of John James Tait, and of Blanche Tait, of Dunshelt, Fife. His
brother Joseph also died on service.
Source
: CWGC and Aled Leyshon (grandson of Mervyn Leyshon)
Date record last updated : 4 October 2009
Sgt
Sidney Richard Tinkler
Sgt
Sidney Richard Tinkler, 1320307, Air Gunner, Royal Air Force Volunteer
Reserve, Nationality : United Kingdom, KIA 14 May 1943, Aged 21
SEE
CREWS AND LOSSES for Stirling Mark I R9242 BU-O
Named on the following Memorial : Runnymede Memorial Panel 167
Son of Albert and Fanny Tinkler, of Woodston, Northamptonshire.
Source
: Chorley and CWGC
Date record last updated : 10 October 2009
Chf/Tech
Peter Graham Thomas Burma Star
Taken in September 1960. Can anyone identify the aircraft?
Chf/Tech
Peter Graham Thomas Burma Star, Crew Chief, Royal Air Force, Nationality
: United Kingdom
Born 8 June 1924
Born in London
Son of William Grahame Thomas and Dora Corona Thomas (nee Goode).
Husband of Betty Thomas
Peter joined as a RAF Cadet at Halton aged about 14. He trained as
an engineer fitter.
Neil Barton writes:
I am writing to you with regard to my uncle, Peter Thomas, who was
stationed at Marham with 214 in the days of the Valiant tankers. Uncle
Peter passed away a few years ago, but I have many memories, as a
10 year boy in the early 1960s, of Uncle Peter and some of his accounts
of life with 214.
My memories have been triggered by reading Eric Morgan's excellent
book on the Valiant and, in particular, the photo on page 50, which
is also featured on your website in the section on "The Valiant
Years".
It is a shot of the hose drum unit in the bomb bay. The senior NCO
in the picture has the right number of stripes, the place and aircraft
are right, but unfortunately it is a back view. Still it does look
just like Uncle Peter. Does anyone know of the details of this photo
and who is in it?
"Shaun Broaders, the writer of the "The
Valiant Years" confirms that the airman in the centre of
the picture is Peter Thomas."
Uncle Peter joined the RAF as a cadet in the late 30's and served
in Burma in WW2. He was awarded the Burma Star. My father remembers
Peter talking about crossing the Irrawaddy and also being based at
a 'diversion' airfield in the Andaman Islands.
After the war he had a number of postings, including RAF Stafford
de-commissioning aircraft, but his final posting with 214 at RAFMarham
on Valiant Tankers was his favourite, as his wife was from Norfolk.
After the RAF he worked for a small engineering company in Cornwall,
before moving back to Norfolk, again to work in an engineering environment,
in this case making spectacle lenses. Uncle Peter and Aunty Betty
had a happy retirement in Downham Market, although the local fish
might not agree, as he was a keen fisherman all his life.
As is often the case with highly capable engineers, he demanded quality
in what he did and what others did. The Valiant didn't always come
up to his high standards and I think he was quite glad that he left
the RAF before their final demise. Still, the Valiant ranked a lot
higher in his estimation than the Javelin, which they often re-fuelled.
"You wouldn't get me up in one of those" was his terse comment."
Peter died in August 2001 aged 77.
Source
: Neil Barton (nephew of Peter Thomas) and Shaun Broaders
Date record last updated : 28 February 2010
Sgt
Geoffrey Malcolm Charles Turner
Sgt Geoffrey Malcolm Charles Turner, 1251531, Wireless Operator
/ Air Gunner, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, Nationality : United
Kingdom, KIA 16 April 1942, Aged 21
SEE
CREWS AND LOSSES for Wellington (model unknown) Z8951 BU-X
Buried in EINDHOVEN
(WOENSEL) GENERAL CEMETERY. Reference : Plot JJ. Grave 53.
Son of Mr. and Mrs. Clifford Turner, of Wallington, Surrey; husband
of Beryl Barbara Turner, of Riddlesden, Yorkshire.
Source
: Adrian van Zantvoort and Chorley and CWGC
Date record last updated : 1 January 2010
Cpt Howard Grantley Tingle MC
Cpt
Howard Grantley Tingle MC, 88507, Royal Artillery, Nationality
: United Kingdom, KIA 1 April 1942, Aged 39
SEE
CREWS AND LOSSES for Wellington Mark I C X9979 BU-O
Named on the following Memorial : Galleywood, Essex
Born in Wolverhampton England
Buried in DURNBACH
WAR CEMETERY. Reference : 2. B. 18.
Son of Eustace Martin Tingle and Ada Sarah Tingle (Dent); husband
of Margot Tingle.
Howard was born in 1902, the youngest of 5 children. In 1911 his father
was a lay reader in the Church of England.
Howard came to Galleywood to work at GEC. His wife Margot was born
in Germany; they had no children.
His parents are buried in St Michael’s churchyard in Galleywood
Essex.
Howard volunteered for a joint mission with the RAF to study "flak".
His elder brother John Charles Tingle had served in WW1 with the ASC
and was awarded the Meritorious Service medal in 1916; he survived
the war.
Howard was awarded the MC posthumously, on 9 July 1942.
Source
: Chorley and CWGC and Wendy Cummin
Date record last updated : 27 July 2010
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