Barbadians in the RAF

Discussion in 'World War 2' started by Kyt, May 23, 2008.

  1. Kyt

    Kyt Άρης

    Came across this site, and this fascinating picture (attached). Hopefully I'll to find more information about those pictured.

    Sarting with:

    Name: CUMBERBATCH, GREY DOYLE
    Initials: G D
    Nationality: United Kingdom
    Rank: Sergeant (Air Bomber)
    Regiment/Service: Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
    Unit Text: 100 Sqdn.
    Age: 21
    Date of Death: 05/03/1943
    Service No: 1383404
    Additional information: Son of Charles Wilkinson Cumberbatch and Octavia C. Cumberbatch, of St. Michael, Barbados.
    Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
    Grave/Memorial Reference: Grave B.2.
    Cemetery: LONG BENNINGTON (ST. SWITHUN) CHURCHYARD

    Lancaster ED549 Gardening Mission

    T/O 18.32 from Grimsby. Crashed at 03.08 while trying to land land at Langar Airfield, Nottinghamshire on return from a Gardening sortie. This was the first mission by 100 Squadron after they had received Lancasters and their mission area was St. Nazaire (another aircraft, ED559, crashed in the target area). All but one of the crew were killed.

    F/Sgt G R Avey RCAF
    Sgt B T Hallett
    Sgt A H Spence
    Sgt G D Cumberbatch
    Sgt J Robinson
    Sgt D S Davies Inj
    F/Sgt R S Landry RCAF
     

    Attached Files:

  2. Kyt

    Kyt Άρης

    Name: KING, CHARLES PARNELL
    Initials: C P
    Nationality: United Kingdom
    Rank: Sergeant (Air Bomber)
    Regiment/Service: Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
    Unit Text: 9 Sqdn.
    Date of Death: 26/06/1943
    Service No: 1383417
    Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
    Grave/Memorial Reference: British Plot 2. Grave 4.
    Cemetery: HARDERWIJK GENERAL CEMETERY

    Lancaster ED831 Mission to Gelsenkirchen

    T/O 22.30 from Bardney. Shot down by a night-fighter and crashed at 02.19 into the Ijsselmeer off Hoorn (Holland). All are buried in various Dutch Cemetries. F/O Sams, whose body was washed ashore 5th July 1943, was a graduate from Oxford University, and had reported to the Squadron from 1660 HCU on the day of the operation and was flying as second piot.

    S/L A M Hobbs DFC RNZAF
    F/O J H Sams (P2)
    Sgt F W Sanderson
    Sgt K G Mott
    Sgt C P King
    Sgt E C Bishop
    Sgt W C Rowlands
    F/Sgt W Slater
     
  3. Kyt

    Kyt Άρης

    Name: WALROND, ARTHUR ADOLPHUS
    Initials: A A
    Nationality: United Kingdom
    Rank: Sergeant (W.Op./Air Gnr.)
    Regiment/Service: Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
    Unit Text: 15 Sqdn.
    Age: 29
    Date of Death: 29/06/1943
    Service No: 1383413
    Additional information: Son of Richard Humphrey and Sarah Walrond; husband of Ena Louise Walrond, of St. Michael, Barbados.
    Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
    Grave/Memorial Reference: Coll. grave 6. D. 1-20.
    Cemetery: HEVERLEE WAR CEMETERY

    Stirling BK694 Mission to Cologne

    T/O 23.50 from Mildenhall. Shot down by a night-fighter (Hptm Werner Hoffman, 4./NJG5) and crashed 02.20 at Lommel (Limburg), Belgium. Those killed were taken to St-Truiden for burial on 1st July 1943. They were subsequently re-interred in the Heverlee War Cemetery. In civilian life Sgt Keen was an Associate of the Institute of Chartered Accountants. His W/Op, came from St Michaels on Barbados. All but one of the crew were killed

    Sgt J B Keen
    Sgt G A Pryke
    Sgt P F P.Venton
    F/Sgt J D Duckett RNZAF PoW "No.308"
    Sgt A A Walrond
    Sgt W G Johnson
    Sgt D Thomas
     
  4. Kyt

    Kyt Άρης

    Name: CUKE, MARK RADFORD
    Initials: M R
    Nationality: United Kingdom
    Rank: Sergeant (Pilot)
    Regiment/Service: Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
    Age: 23
    Date of Death: 17/11/1941
    Service No: 1383433
    Additional information: Son of the Hon. H. Archibald Cuke, M.L.C., and Isabella M. Cuke, of St. Michael, Barbados. Diploma, Imperial College of Tropical Agriculture.
    Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
    Grave/Memorial Reference: Block J. Grave 40.
    Cemetery: KEMPSTON CEMETERY

    Aircraft and Aircrew Casualty Information Archive for Bedfordshire

     
  5. Kyt

    Kyt Άρης

    Name: DUNLOP, ANDREW PETER CATHCART
    Initials: A P C
    Nationality: United Kingdom
    Rank: Flying Officer
    Regiment/Service: Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
    Age: 21
    Date of Death: 10/12/1942
    Service No: 119721
    Additional information: Son of William Wallace Cathcart Dunlop and Adele Marie Francoise Dunlop, of St. Johns, Barbados; stepson of John Cecil Wippell, of Cross Roads, Jamaica.
    Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
    Grave/Memorial Reference: 24. C. 9.
    Cemetery: BROOKWOOD MILITARY CEMETERY

    Killed on Active Service - haven't found any details yet

    Thanks to Henk - Whitley V - serial AD699 of 10 OTU crashed Church Farm near Little Whittenham, Berkshire, 9 miles SSE of Oxford
     
  6. Kyt

    Kyt Άρης

    Name: MILLER, BRUCE FITZGERALD HENRY
    Initials: B F H
    Nationality: United Kingdom
    Rank: Pilot Officer (Nav.)
    Regiment/Service: Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
    Unit Text: 103 Sqdn.
    Date of Death: 22/10/1943
    Service No: 158294
    Awards: D F C
    Additional information: Husband of Helen Elizabeth Miller, of Sawley, Long Eaton, Derbyshire.
    Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
    Grave/Memorial Reference: 16. E. 9.
    Cemetery: HANOVER WAR CEMETERY

    Lancaster LM314 Mission to Kassel

    T/O18.00 from Elsham Wolds. Crashed at Rischenau, 9 km SSE of Lügde.

    W/O K R Lee DFC
    F/L P J Blurton DFC (P2)
    Sgt M Sheedy
    P/O B F H Miller DFC
    Sgt D Adams
    Sgt C W Gray
    Sgt C L Spink
    F/Sgt G G Sveinson RCAF

    DFC LG'd 28th March, 1944
    Pilot Officer Bruce Fitzgerald Henry MILLER (158294), Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve,
    No. 103 Squadron, with effect from 17th October, 1943
     
  7. Kyt

    Kyt Άρης

    Others on the CWGC:

    Name: CARTER, GEOFFREY WILIAM
    Initials: G W
    Nationality: United Kingdom
    Rank: Flight Lieutenant (Pilot)
    Regiment/Service: Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
    Unit Text: 18 Sqdn.
    Age: 26
    Date of Death: 16/03/1944
    Service No: 132305
    Additional information: Son of William Howard Carter and Edna Lovell Carter, of Barbados, British West Indies.
    Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
    Grave/Memorial Reference: VII, C, 18.
    Cemetery: CASERTA WAR CEMETERY

    Henk has suggested Boston III - serial BZ375 - hit trees on take-off at night Marcianise, which is very close to the cemetary. Very possible candidate

    Name: DEANE, DAVID SEWALL WOODING
    Initials: D S W
    Nationality: United Kingdom
    Rank: Sergeant (Pilot)
    Regiment/Service: Royal Air Force
    Age: 26
    Date of Death: 22/09/1943
    Service No: 605479
    Additional information: Son of Fredrick Gustave Wooding Deane and of Maud Gorring Deane (nee Batson), of Barbados.
    Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
    Grave/Memorial Reference: Sec. A. Grave 501.
    Cemetery: CHESTER (BLACON) CEMETERY

    Henk - Anson of 2 AFU serial N9718 crashed into sea off Millom Coastguard Station, Cumberland. Also killed: L.S. Gibson, RCAF J/27481 - D. Clayton, 1288501 and W. Dowling, 1562767.

    Name: GOODING, ARTHUR WINFIELD
    Initials: A W
    Nationality: United Kingdom
    Rank: Flying Officer
    Regiment/Service: Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
    Unit Text: 1602 Flight
    Age: 21
    Date of Death: 09/08/1943
    Service No: 136840
    Additional information: Son of Winfield Ulrich Gooding and Dorothy Grace Ensor Gooding, of St. Philip, Barbados, British West Indies.
    Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
    Grave/Memorial Reference: Panel 124.
    Memorial: RUNNYMEDE MEMORIAL

    Henk - Henley TT.1 serial L3292 - towing cable damaged elevator; crashed into sea off Penhale Point, Cornwall. Also killed Cpl W. Holliday, 992991.

    Name: INCE, CLARENCE DESMOND
    Initials: C D
    Nationality: United Kingdom
    Rank: Flight Lieutenant
    Regiment/Service: Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
    Unit Text: 7 Sqdn.
    Age: 23
    Date of Death: 22/06/1943
    Service No: 110952
    Awards: D F C and Bar
    Additional information: Son of Clarence Winston Ince and Isa Elaine Ince, of Barbados, British West Indies.
    Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
    Grave/Memorial Reference: Panel 192.
    Memorial: RUNNYMEDE MEMORIAL

    Henk - Stirling I - serial R9266 - hit by Flak, crew - except the pilot - baled out. Stirling crashed on land of Mr Höckels, Gladbacher Strasse (name of a street) near Büttgen, 5 km W of Neuss, Germany.

    Name: INNISS, GEORGE HAROLD FREDERICK
    Initials: G H F
    Nationality: United Kingdom
    Rank: Pilot Officer (Pilot)
    Regiment/Service: Royal Air Force
    Unit Text: 106 Sqdn.
    Age: 24
    Date of Death: 04/02/1941
    Service No: 43036
    Additional information: Son of Charles H. Inniss and Caroline Inniss, of Barbados. Arts Graduate of Durham University.
    Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
    Grave/Memorial Reference: Plot L. Row A. Grave 15.
    Cemetery: NANTES (PONT-DU-CENS) COMMUNAL CEMETERY

    Henk - Hampden AD750 - gardening off St.Nazaire. Crashed near St.Pète-en-Retz (between St.Nazaire and Nantes, Loire-et-Atlantique, France).

    Name: MANNING, JACK HERBERT
    Initials: J H
    Nationality: United Kingdom
    Rank: Sergeant
    Regiment/Service: Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
    Unit Text: 117 Sqdn.
    Age: 28
    Date of Death: 05/02/1943
    Service No: 932188
    Additional information: Son of Herbert Christie and Mary Dolores Manning, of St. Philip, Barbados, British West Indies.
    Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
    Grave/Memorial Reference: 10. C. 13.
    Cemetery: TOBRUK WAR CEMETERY

    Henk - may have been killed on Hudson VI - serial EW877. Lost power on take-off and crashed El Adem, Libya.

    Name: PROVERBS, KEITH GORDON
    Initials: K G
    Nationality: United Kingdom
    Rank: Pilot Officer (Pilot)
    Regiment/Service: Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
    Unit Text: 517 Sqdn.
    Age: 27
    Date of Death: 10/09/1945
    Service No: 197664
    Additional information: Son of Ivan Gordon Proverbs and Nelly Kathleen Proverbs, of Bridgetown, Barbados.
    Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
    Grave/Memorial Reference: Plot 39. Sec. H. Row D. Grave 249.
    Cemetery: BATH (HAYCOMBE) CEMETERY

    Henk - Halifax RG380 on a Met flight. Hit high ground on approach Weston Zoyland and crashed Crowcombe Park, Quantocks, Somerset. Also killed: J.J.F. Hobden, 154868 - L.G. McMillan, 153580 - P.A. Bee, 191540 - R.D. Cartwright, 1471979 - R.W. Vinton, 1608294 - D.N. Everett, 1154488 - L.G. Groves, 1483506 (of Meteo Office Brawdy) and J.McI.B. Gordon, 1825115 (of Meteo Office Brawdy).

    Name: SKINNER, JOHN WALROD SEYMOUR
    Initials: J W S
    Nationality: United Kingdom
    Rank: Flight Lieutenant (Pilot)
    Regiment/Service: Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
    Unit Text: 640 Sqdn.
    Age: 31
    Date of Death: 03/06/1944
    Service No: 108951
    Additional information: Son of Herbert Seymour Skinner and Gladys Cottle Skinner, of St. Michael, Barbados.
    Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
    Grave/Memorial Reference: Row 1. Coll. grave 27-29.
    Cemetery: DREUX COMMUNAL CEMETERY

    Henk - Halifax MZ677 - crashed near Boutigny-sur-Opton, Eure-et-Loir, 18 km E of Dreux, France.

    Name: SMITH, HENRY VERNON
    Initials: H V
    Nationality: United Kingdom
    Rank: Flying Officer (Pilot)
    Regiment/Service: Royal Air Force
    Unit Text: 10 Sqdn.
    Age: 25
    Date of Death: 20/06/1940
    Service No: 39692
    Additional information: Son of Vernon and Gwendolen Smith, of St. Michael, Barbados; husband of Margaret Smith.
    Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
    Grave/Memorial Reference: Row A. Grave 14.
    Cemetery: HONINGTON (ALL SAINTS) CHURCHYARD, Suffolk

    Henk - Whitley V - serial P4960. Hit tree on landing, broke up and on fire, Ampton Park, 3 miles of Honington airfield, Suffolk.
     
  8. liverpool annie

    liverpool annie New Member

    I found this snippet .... :)

    Andrew Peter Cathcart Dunlop

    Was educated at the Lodge School, Barbados. Peter was in Barbados at the outbreak of World War II and in 1940 volunteered for active service. He was part of the second contingent, recruited by a prominent citizen of Barbados named Harold Wright (who himself was a veteran of World War I), who launched a fund bearing his name, for the recruitment of volunteers to serve overseas. Andrew became a Flying Officer in the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. He was killed in an aeroplane crash in 1942. Peter is remembered with honour at Brookwood Military Cemetery in Surrey, England.

    Annie :)

    Flying Officer Andrew Peter Dunlop ( - 1942) - Find A Grave Memorial
     
  9. liverpool annie

    liverpool annie New Member

    Another snippet .... I just realised he was only 21 ......

    Sgt. G.D. Cumberbatch is mentioned in "Lost Bombers" -
    Lancaster ED549 Information.

    A part of it is as follows:
    This was 100 Sqdns first Lancaster operation and, with ED559 the first Lancaster operational losses for the Sqdn. ED549 was one of two 100 Sqdn Lancasters lost on this operation. See ED559. Airborne 1832 4Mar43 from Grimsby. Crashed 0308 4Mar43 while trying to land land at Langar Airfield, Nottinghamshire on return from a Gardening sortie. Both Canadian airmen and Sgt Cumberbatch, who came from Barbados, are buried in Long Bennington (St.Swithin) Churchyard. F/S G.R.Avey RCAF KIA Sgt B.T.Hallett KIA Sgt A.H.Spence KIA Sgt G.D.Cumberbatch KIA Sgt J.Robinson KIA Sgt D.s.Davies Inj F/S R.S.Landry RCAF KIA "

    Cumberbatch Grey Doyle Sgt RAF 1383404 21
    Bomb Aimer 4/5-3-43 Lancaster ED549 Minelaying
    Long Bennington (St. Swithun) Churchyard, Lincolnshire, UK
    Grave B.2

    The Lancaster Period Roll of Honour
     
  10. liverpool annie

    liverpool annie New Member

    Do you want to find headstones K ?

    Name - AVEY, GERALD RUSSELL
    Nationality - Canadian
    Rank - Flight Sergeant (Pilot)
    Regiment/Service - Royal Canadian Air Force
    Unit Text - 100 (R.A.F.) Sqdn
    Date of Death - 05/03/1943
    Service No - R/99993
    Additional information - Son of Mr. and Mrs. J. A. Avey, of Norwich, Ontario, Canada.
    Casualty Type - Commonwealth War Dead
    Grave/Memorial Reference - Grave B.1.
    Cemetery - LONG BENNINGTON (ST. SWITHUN) CHURCHYARD

    HALLETT, BENJAMIN THOMAS
    Nationality - United Kingdom
    Rank - Sergeant (Flt. Engr.)
    Regiment/Service - Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
    Unit Text - 100 Sqdn.
    Age - 23
    Date of Death - 05/03/1943
    Service No - 1176108
    Additional information - Son of Mr. and Mrs. W. H. Hallett, of Fratton, Portsmouth.
    Casualty Type - Commonwealth War Dead
    Grave/Memorial Reference - Plot 102 (Taylor). Row 11. Grave 12.
    Cemetery - PORTSMOUTH (KINGSTON) CEMETERY

    Name - SPENCE, ALAN HAVELOCK
    Nationality - United Kingdom
    Rank - Sergeant (Nav.)
    Regiment/Service - Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
    Unit Text - 100 Sqdn.
    Age - 32
    Date of Death - 05/03/1943
    Service No - 1535230
    Additional information - Son of Albert H. Spence and Mary Spence; husband of Florence Irene Spence, of Gosforth, Newcastle-on-Tyne.
    Casualty Type - Commonwealth War Dead
    Grave/Memorial Reference - Grave U.6.
    Cemetery - NORTH SUNDERLAND CEMETERY

    Name - ROBINSON, JOHN
    Nationality - United Kingdom
    Rank - Sergeant (W.Op./Air Gnr.)
    Regiment/Service - Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
    Unit Text - 100 Sqdn.
    Age - 34
    Date of Death - 05/03/1943
    Service No - 1024294
    Additional information - Son of Robert and Leah Robinson; husband of Isabella Robinson, of Thornton, Cleveleys.
    Casualty Type - Commonwealth War Dead
    Grave/Memorial Reference - Plot F.L.4. Grave 65.
    Cemetery - THORNTON-LE-FYLDE (CHRIST CHURCH) CHURCHYARD

    Name - LANDRY, RENE RODGER
    Nationality - Canadian
    Rank - Flight Sergeant (Air Gnr.)
    Regiment/Service - Royal Canadian Air Force
    Unit Text - 100 (R.A.F.) Sqdn
    Age - 23
    Date of Death - 05/03/1943
    Service No - R/100254
    Additional information - Son of Mr. and Mrs. O. Landry, of Norman, Ontario, Canada.
    Casualty Type - Commonwealth War Dead
    Grave/Memorial Reference - Grave A.2.
    Cemetery - LONG BENNINGTON (ST. SWITHUN) CHURCHYARD
     
  11. liverpool annie

    liverpool annie New Member

  12. bimjim

    bimjim Guest

    Lynch, Richard Challenor - 501 Sqdn. Spitfire P/O

    Name: LYNCH, RICHARD CHALLENOR
    Initials: RCL
    Nationality: United Kingdom / Barbados
    Rank: Pilot Officer
    Regiment/Service: Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
    Unit Text: 501 Sqdn.
    Age: 21
    Date of Death: 17 Sept 1942
    aged 21 years
    Service No: 115146
    Additional information: Son of Cyril Aubrey Lynch and his wife Frances Louise Webster, of Barbados, British West Indies.
    Cemetery: FULFORD CEMETERY, Yorkshire, United Kingdom
    Grave/Memorial Reference: Grave Reference/Panel Number: Plot 16. Row W. Grave 18


    --


    Richard 'Dickie' Lynch was born in Barbados, West Indies in 1921 to Cyril Aubrey Lynch and his wife Louise, and was married in the UK to Patricia Farrar. He was a Spitfire pilot based at RAF Ibsley, not far from Bournemouth on the south coast of England, and was killed in action over the English Channel.

    Pilot Officer Richard C Lynch (RAF service number 115146) was posted to 501 Squadron in September 1941. Dickie's posting to 501 Squadron would have been his first operational posting, after having completed his operational training as a fighter pilot at No 57 Operational Training Unit at Hawarden in North West England, not far from the city of Chester.

    It was during the month of September 1941, when Dickie first arrived at Ibsley airfield, that a famous movie film called "First of the Few" was being shot at Ibsley. This film starred actors David Niven and Leslie Howard and told the story of the Supermarine Spitfire and its designer RJ Mitchell.

    The crews of 501 Squadron became film stars as the Air Ministry agreed to provide aircraft for the flying sequences that were shot at the location. The Spitfires of 501 Squadron were chosen for this role because they were still operating the Mark II spitfire which had been flown two years earlier during the Battle of Britain in 1940. The Mark II Spitfire was required because it did not have the distinctive cannon of the later Marks, but still sported an armament of 8 .303" machine guns.

    The starring pilots were drawn from both 501 and 118 squadrons, both based at Ibsley at the time. These pilots play themselves effectively, as pilots debriefing after a previous air combat engagement and then waiting at dispersal for the next "scramble" order, whilst listening to David Niven telling them the story of RJ Mitchell and the Spitfire.

    The Squadron Commander of 501 Squadron, Squadron Leader Chris "Bunny Currant", actually had a minor role in the film and played a small cameo as a friend of David Niven's character "Crisp". He is "shot-down" and killed by a German ME109 during the exciting battle scene at the climax of the movie.

    In later years, when talking to school children about his war years, one little girl asked him if it was true that he had been "shot down" in the movie. With his usual sense of humour and a twinkle in his eye, Bunny replied with a straight face that yes, it was perfectly true that he had been "shot down", and in fact of all the instances during the war years when he had been shot down, that was the only occasion when he had been "shot down and killed". Bunny Currant was the 501 Squadron Commander and later became commander of the whole Ibsley Wing, which comprised three Squadrons including 501. Sadly, Bunny died in 2008.

    Dickie flew with the squadron until he was posted missing on 17th September 1942. He would therefore have participated in the great air battle over Dieppe in August 1942, when a chiefly Canadian assault force attempted a large-scale raid on the French coast near Dieppe. The RAF was called upon to provide air cover for this amphibious raid, which provoked a massive response from the German Luftwaffe.

    For the Dieppe raid, 501 Squadron was deployed to Tangmere airbase near Chichester in the South Coast on England. They escorted a formation of Blenheim light bombers over towards the Dieppe area at about 0750 hours, but this mission was cancelled and they returned to base; a further mission was flown at 1024, when they escorted some Hurri-bombers which were briefed to attack gun emplacements on East Beach at Dieppe.

    In mid afternoon, the Germans started to attack the main landing ship convoy with Dornier 217 and Junkers 88 bombers, escorted by FW190 fighters. 501 Squadron along with other fighter units, were scrambled at 1455 hours to assist the ships at the rear of the flotilla. Reaching the convoy about 8 miles off Dieppe, the Squadron was immediately involved in a furious scrap with ten FW190s, several of which were damaged by 501 Squadron pilots.

    Dickie was flying Spitfire Mark V (serial number EP871, Squadron Code letters SD-L) when he was reported missing, following a convoy patrol. It is interesting to note that Pilot Officer John Scott, flying Spitfire serial number AB491 (SD-Y), was also lost on the same routine convoy patrol. It is understood that "Scotty" baled out after being attacked by a FW190 over Lyme Bay, but his parachute failed to open. It therefore seems reasonable to conclude that Dickie was also shot down by FW190s.

    In fact, the Squadron was plagued by a series of unrelated incidents over the period 27 August to 17 September 1942, during which time no less than 7 pilots (about 30% of a typical Squadron strength) were killed in action or in flying accidents. Hence the Squadron was withdrawn from operations in October 1942 and moved to Ballyherbet in Northern Ireland.

    Here the Squadron continued to perform convoy escort duties, but was essentially on a rest tour. It is sad to think that had he survived the convoy patrol, his unit may have pulled out of the front line for rest shortly afterwards, and he may have survived the war as a result.

    There is not much detail about Dickie's success as a fighter pilot. One day whilst filming the movie "First of the Few", the Squadron was scrambled from Ibsley to intercept a Ju88 at 18000 feet South of Portland Bill. Bunny Currant decided that it was a useful learning experience for the whole squadron, since some pilots had not even fired their guns in anger yet. He therefore let everyone have a shot at it. It eventually crashed onto rocks at Cap de La Hague on the Cherbourg Peninsula, and Bunny received a scolding from Fighter Command who felt that it was overdoing it to use over 20,000 rounds of ammunition on it. As Dickie was a new pilot on the Squadron, it is expected that he would have been one of the new pilots that Bunny was concerned about;, and if he was flying that day, he would have been entitled to claim a twelfth of a "Confirmed" kill!

    Dickie was also credited with a 1/2 share claim in a "probably destroyed" Junkers 88 which was shot at on 13th March 1942 near to Casquettes at 1730 hours, whilst flying Spitfire Mark V Serial Number AD538. He shared the claim with Wing Commander Ian Gleed, a famous Battle of Britain pilot who was commander of the Ibsley wing at the time. Ian Gleed was later killed in North Africa in 1943. For a kill to be classed as "Probably Destroyed" it would be fairly badly damaged, with smoke and/or flame trailing, and most likely to crash but not actually witnessed to do so.

    Dickie's Spitfire EP120 still exists as an airworthy aircraft to this day, although not painted in its 501 Squadron markings. It is now operated by the Fighter Collection at Duxford in UK.

    --

    http://yard.ccta.gov.uk/cwgc/register.nsf
    The Commonwealth War Graves Commission
    In Memory of
    RICHARD CHALLENOR LYNCH
    Pilot Officer
    115146
    501 Sqdn., Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
    who died on
    Thursday, 17th September 1942. Age 21.

    Buried at FULFORD CEMETERY, Yorkshire, United Kingdom
    Grave Reference/Panel Number: Plot 16. Row W. Grave 18.
    Record of Commemoration
    In Memory of
    Pilot Officer RICHARD CHALLENOR LYNCH
    501 Sqdn., Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
    who died aged 21 on Thursday, 17th September 1942.

    production page 040
    Serial: EP871; Mark: Vb; Fac: CBAF; Eng: M46; History : 15MU 10-8-42 501S 'SD-L' 1-9-42 Shot down by Fw190 on convoy patrol 17-9-42 FH25.15 P/O R C Lynch baled out too low and killed.

    -- PHOTOGRAPHS ATTACHED --

    Ibsley Photo provided by Eric Moore:

    501 Squadron, May 1942, at RAF Ibsley near Ringwood.

    Back Row: F/Sgt Shadbolt, Sgt Henderson, F/Sgt Carmody, Sgt Collis.

    Middle Row: P/O Brannigan, Sgt Kelly, F/Sgt Macdonald, F/sgt Moore, Sgt Leitch, P/O Jackson, P/O De-Merode, P/O Smith, P/O Mawer, Sgt Strang.

    Front Row: F/O Torbill, F/O Drossart, S/L Sine, S/L Villa, F/L Stanbury, P/O Lynch, P/O Lightborn.

    --

    Aerial photo of Ibsley airfield, January 1944

    --

    Gravestone Marker Photo provided by James Lynch

    To the ever glorious memory
    of my dearly loved husband
    Richard Challenor Lynch
    Pilot Officer 501 (Spitfire) Sqdn
    killed in combat over the English Channel
    September 17th 1942
    aged 21 years

    To save Mankind
    Himself he scorned to save.

    --

    The two framed signature boards in the the pub nook behind the dining room bar at the St. Leonard's Hotel, west of Ringwood, near Ibsley, where the pilots of many nationalities based at the airfield during the war used to go for "recreation". This Hotel is on the A31 just west of the western A338-A31 roundabout (the A31 and A338 split again at the next roundabout east).

    I have an enlarged image which shows the signature R C Lynch but could only upload 5 photos.

    1. Left Signature Board
    2. Right Signature Board

    This was an amazing find as I only expected to find the airfield. The Ibsley airfield society told me about the Pub and its signature Boards, and I went there as soon as I could.
     

    Attached Files:

  13. Antipodean Andy

    Antipodean Andy New Member

    Excellent information thanks Bimjim. Welcome aboard.
     
  14. jives11

    jives11 New Member

    Does anyone have any additional information about this Pilot from Barbados, previously mentioned in this thread. I'm ultimately trying to trace living relatives and any photographs.

    Name: INNISS, GEORGE HAROLD FREDERICK
    Initials: G H F
    Nationality: United Kingdom
    Rank: Pilot Officer (Pilot)
    Regiment/Service: Royal Air Force
    Unit Text: 106 Sqdn.
    Age: 24
    Date of Death: 04/02/1941
    Service No: 43036
    Additional information: Son of Charles H. Inniss and Caroline Inniss, of Barbados. Arts Graduate of Durham University.
    Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
    Grave/Memorial Reference: Plot L. Row A. Grave 15.
    Cemetery: NANTES (PONT-DU-CENS) COMMUNAL CEMETERY

    Henk - Hampden AD750 - gardening off St.Nazaire. Crashed near St.Pète-en-Retz (between St.Nazaire and Nantes, Loire-et-Atlantique, France).

    Kind regards



    Jonathan
     

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