West Midlands | Solihull | Air service war casualties
Geoffrey Negus has sent me the following listing for inclusion on this website, with these comments:
Since 1984 I’ve been compiling an Archive listing British, Commonwealth and
Free Polish air services personnel who died while in service. It now
contains about 94,000 personnel. In a very large number of cases, the
circumstances of death are given – something of course the CWGC records
don’t cover.
As a small sideline, I’ve compiled a list of personnel with connections in
the Solihull area.
Comments, feedback and queries on this listing to Geoffrey at:
2 Heathcote Avenue,
Solihull,
West Midlands
B91 1QL
Email: geoffnegus@btinternet.com
Solihull Air Services Personnel
who died on Service
Compiled by Geoffrey Negus
The information in this publication is extracted from the British,
Commonwealth and Polish Air Services Personnel Archive. It lists only
personnel covered by the current extent of the archive; it is not claimed to
be a complete list.
Geoff Negus would be pleased to receive any additional details of the personnel listed here.
Abbreviations:
| AC1 | Aircraftman 1st Class |
| AC2 | Aircraftman 2nd Class |
| RAFVR | Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. |
6 September 1916 Flight Sub-Lieutenant Lewis Radmore, Royal Naval Air
Service, 33. Native of Thorverton, Devon. Died of pneumonia. Buried at SS
Mary & Bartholemew Churchyard, Hampton-in-Arden. Next of kin Mrs Radmore
(wife), The Croft, Hampton-in-Arden.
16 February 1917 2nd Lt (Temporary) (Observer) Leslie Vincent Munn, General
List; 6/Leicestershire Regt & Royal Flying Corps, 16 Squadron (Bruay), 22,
of Solihull. Killed in action while flying BE.2c 4179 with 2nd Lt E W
Lindley, who died on 18th. Buried at Cabaret-Rouge British Cemetery,
Souchez, France.
28 July 1917 Lt (Pilot) Joseph Cecil Smith, Royal Warwickshire Regt
attached to Royal Flying Corps, 70 Squadron (Estrée Blanche, France), 19.
Son of Mr and Mrs F J Smith of Solihull. Killed when Sopwith Camel B3874 was
shot down over Roulers by Ltn O von Bönigk of Jasta 4 at about 19.25 hours.
Commemorated at the Air Services Memorial, Arras, having no known grave.
18 October 1917 2nd Lt (Pilot) James Henry Cremonini, Royal Flying Corps,
66 Squadron (Estrée Blanche, France), 18, of Solihull. Sopwith Camel B4606
dived in during practice flight near aerodrome. Buried at Aire Communal
Cemetery, France.
7 May 1918 2nd Lt (Plt) John Gordon Ward, Lancashire Fusiliers & RAF, 63
Training Squadron (Joyce Green), 25. Killed in collision near Dartford while
flying Avro 504J C4477. Son of John and Anna Louisa Ward, of Dorridge Croft,
Dorridge. Born at Bolton. Formerly 1/2 Lancashire Fusiliers. Buried at
Bolton (Heaton) Cemetery, Lancashire.
9 September 1918 182002 Cadet Percy John Evans, RAF, 18. Stationed at
Mullion Air Station, Cornwall. Son of John Evans, Balsall Street, Balsall
Common. Buried at St Mary Churchyard, neighbouring Balsall Cemetery, Temple
Balsall.
11 November 1918 (Armistice Day) 77543 Air Mechanic 3rd Class Ernest Stain,
RAF, 199 (Night) Training Squadron, 20. Died of pneumonia. Son of Thomas and
Elizabeth Stain, Golden End, Knowle. Buried at SS John the Baptist, Lawrence
& Ann Churchyard, Knowle.
5 December 1918 283651 Private (Clerk, 2nd Class) William Henry Cooper,
RAF, 2 Aircraft Depot, 44. Son of William Cooper, of Shirley; husband of
Emma Eliza Cooper, of Gladstone, Manitoba, Canada. Buried at Awoingt British
Cemetery, Nord, France.
14 July 1919 Capt Adrian James Boswell Tonks, DFC & Bar, RAF, 80Sqn, 21.
Son of Arthur George and Alice Tonks, 31 Addison Mansions, Kensington,
London. Born at Solihull. Buried at Alexandria (Hadra) War Memorial
Cemetery, Egypt.
10 April 1940 953769 AC2 John Walliss Wells, RAFVR, 24, of Theddlethorpe,
Lincolnshire. Buried at St Peter Churchyard, Bickenhill.
27 May 1940 747704 Sergeant Basil Aloysiaus Joseph Kenrick, RAFVR, 254
Squadron (Blenheims at Sumburgh, Shetland), 19, of Shirley. Commemorated at
the Air Forces Memorial, Runnymede, Egham, having no known grave.
5 August 1940 755799 Sergeant (Wireless Operator/Air Gunner) Frederick
Herbert Hull, RAFVR, 206 Squadron (Hudsons at Bircham Newton), 22, of Acocks
Green. Buried at Solihull (Robin Hood) Cemetery.
1 September 1940 740908 Sergeant (Pilot) Lewis Ernest Ashforth, RAF, 106Sqn
(Finningley, Yorkshire), 30. Hampden L4188 blew up in air near Halton during
night training flight. Wife lived at Olton. Buried at St Michael Churchyard,
Halton, Buckinghamshire.
10 September 1940 72051 Pilot Officer Oswald O¹Neil Briginshaw, RAF, 42
Squadron (Beauforts at Wick), 23, of Solihull. Commemorated at the Air
Forces Memorial, Runnymede, Egham, having no known grave.
14 September 1940 81069 Pilot Officer Philip Leslie Norgrove Hughes, RAFVR,
15 Squadron (Wyton), 22, of Solihull. Blenheim R2786 disappeared without
trace from mission against invasion ports on French coast. Commemorated at
the Air Forces Memorial, Runnymede, Egham, having no known grave.
18 September 1940 747711 Sergeant (Observer) Harold Edgar Smart, RAFVR, 99
Squadron (Newmarket), 26, of Shirley. Wellington P9242 (LN-B) lost during
operations over NW Germany. Buried at Rheinberg War Cemetery, Germany.
14 November 1940 648104 AC1 Bernard Francis Hare, RAF, 44 Squadron
(Hampdens at Waddington), 21, of Birmingham. Buried at the Franciscan
Cemetery, Olton.
26 November 1940 937701 Sergeant (Pilot) Alfred William Bethell, RAFVR, 5
Flying Training School, 22, of Shirley. Killed when Miles Master T8397 dived
into ground, Uffington, Shropshire. Buried at St James Churchyard, Stratford
Road, Shirley.
9 April 1941 851462 Leading Aircraftman Alfred George Slade, RAF, 916
Balloon Squadron, 34. Parents lived in Birmingham; wife at Great Barr. Died
on active service. Buried at Solihull (Robin Hood) Cemetery.
12 May 1941 1155594 AC2 Harold Lackey, RAF, 58 Squadron (Whitleys at
Linton-on-Ouse). (Linton-on-Ouse was bombed on this date.) Buried at St
James Churchyard, Stratford Road, Shirley.
12 May 1941 61483 Pilot Officer (Pilot) John Grahame Toplis, RAFVR, 214
Squadron (Stradishall), 20, of Olton. Wellington R1462 missing from
operations to Hamburg. Buried at Hamburg Cemetery, Ohlsdorf, Germany.
15 May 1941 34010 Flight Lieutenant (Pilot) Harold Charles Stewart Veitch,
RAF. Buried at St Peter Churchyard, Bickenhill.
3 June 1941 1154190 Sergeant (Pilot) Denis George Ambrose, RAFVR, 21, of
Barston. Buried at St Swithin Churchyard, Barston.
15 June 1941 FX.79028 Air Fitter (E) John William Tollady, RN, HMS
Daedalus, 23. Buried at Solihull (Robin Hood) Cemetery.
26 June 1941 63626 Flying Officer William John Gardiner, RAFVR, (officially
stated to belong to) 194 Squadron, 46, of Hall Green. (But 194 Squadron was
not formed until 14 October 1942, in India). Buried at Solihull (Robin Hood)
Cemetery.
13 July 1941 964468 Sergeant (Pilot) Donald Onions, RAFVR, 50 Squadron
(Lindholme), 23, of Marston Green. Hampden AE230, which had taken off at
2220 for Bremen, was shot down by night fighter flown by Lt Heinz-Martin
Hadeball of 7./NJG1 and crashed 2 miles E of Welstrup, Germany at 0105
hours. Buried at Reichswald Forest War Cemetery, Germany.
16 July 1941 940750 Leading Aircraftman Allan John Girling, RAFVR, 21, of
Hall Green. Buried at Solihull (Robin Hood) Cemetery.
23 August 1941 76580 Flying Officer (Pilot) Maurice Arthur Frank Hirst,
RAF, 413 Squadron (Stranraer), 25, of Solihull. Killed when Catalina crashed
at Loch Ryan, Wigtownshire. AFRAeS. Awarded a Lord Wakefield Scholarship.
Buried at Stranraer (Glebe) Cemetery, Gallowhill Road, Wigtownshire.
25 August 1941 1185908 Sergeant William Francis Butler, RAFVR, 21, of
Hampton-in-Arden. Commemorated at the Malta Memorial.
7 September 1941 1164974 Sergeant (Pilot) Noel John Lake, RAFVR, 57
Squadron (Feltwell), 25. Wellington Z8794 lost during operations to Hüls.
Wife lived at Shirley. ASAA. Buried at Reichswald Forest War Cemetery,
Germany.
7 September 1941 1164655 Sgt (W.Op/Air Gnr) Adrian Durrant Wimbush, RAFVR,
44 Squadron (Waddington), 25. Hampden X2921 crashed soon after after
take-off on minelaying sortie to Kiel, Waddington. Parents lived in
Birmingham; wife at Hockley Heath, Warwickshire. Buried at Birmingham
(Brandwood End) Cemetery.
30 September 1941 1163345 Sergeant (Pilot) Robert Walter Bird, RAFVR, 78
Squadron, 19, of Olton. Lost when Whitley Z9126 went missing during
operations to Stettin. Took off from Middleton St George at 2139; last heard
on wireless calling for help while homebound. A bearing on the transmission
indicated the aircraft was near Sylt. Commemorated at the Air Forces
Memorial, Runnymede, Egham, having no known grave.
16 November 1941 41235 Flight Lieutenant (Pilot) Sidney Baker, RAF, 60
Operational Training Unit (East Fortune), 28, of Acocks Green. Killed when
Master W8528 dived into ground out of cloud, North Berwick, East Lothian.
Buried at Solihull (Robin Hood) Cemetery.
3 December 1941 1160103 Leading Aircraftman Francis George Broomhall,
RAFVR, 21, of Kings Heath. Buried at Solihull (Robin Hood) Cemetery.
14 December 1941 12113916 Leading Aircraftman (Pilot Under Tuition) Noel
Roy Hughes, RAFVR, 18, of Olton. Buried at Solihull (Robin Hood) Cemetery.
15 December 1941 Sub-Lieutenant (A) Kenneth Wilfred Jones, RNVR, HMS Grebe,
826 Squadron, 25, of Solihull. Killed with two other crew when Fairey
Albacore N4319 failed to return to Ma¹atem Bagush from night bombing raid on
Derna airfield in poor weather. Commemorated at the Fleet Air Arm Memorial,
Lee-on-Solent, Hampshire, having no known grave.
7 February 1942 1354324 Sergeant Arnold Geoffrey Bocock, RAFVR, 50
Squadron, 25, of Solihull. Hampden AE306 was shot down into the sea west of
Terschelling by Me 109 fighter flown by Ofw Detlef Luth, of Luftwaffe unit
II/JG.1, during minelaying. Commemorated at the Air Forces Memorial,
Runnymede, Egham, having no known grave.
27 March 1942 1173842 Sergeant Arthur Frederick Trawford, RAFVR, 408
(Canadian) Squadron (Balderton), 21, of Shirley. Hampden AE219 was shot down
by night fighter during minelaying off Frisian Islands. Commemorated at the
Air Forces Memorial, Runnymede, Egham, having no known grave.
16/17 April 1942 956851 Sergeant (Observer) Alfred Raymond Clouston, RAFVR,
53 Squadron (North Coates), 20, of Shirley. Hudson AM803 missing from
reconnaissance mission. Commemorated at the Air Forces Memorial, Runnymede,
Egham, having no known grave.
19 April 1942 616111 Sergeant Douglas Richard Holland, RAFVR, 156 Squadron
(Alconbury), 20, of Olton. Lost in Wellington X3485 during minelaying. The
body of one member of the crew was found near Ameland. Commemorated at the
Air Forces Memorial, Runnymede, Egham, having no known grave.
29 April 1942 1325787 Sergeant (Wireless Operator/Air Gunner) Harold
Richard Harrison, RAFVR, 9 Squadron, 27, of Shirley. Killed when Wellington
X3716 crashed at 0156 hours (Danish time) at Hobal, 5km SE of Klipev, during
operations to Kiel. Buried at Aabenraa Cemetery, Jutland, Denmark.
9 May 1942 1164554 Sergeant (Observer) Douglas Morton Sellars, RAFVR, 27,
of Solihull. Buried at Brookwood Military Cemetery, Surrey.
18 May 1942 103576 Pilot Officer (Observer) John Fisher, RAFVR, 115
Squadron (Marham), 25, of Olton. Wellington X3644 (KO-A) took off at 2234
hours on 17th for Gardening (minelaying) sortie. Aircraft, believed to be
this Wellington, seen going down out of control at 55N 06E at 0138 hours.
Pilot Officer Fisher¹s body was recovered from Alte Kirche on the western
side of Pellworm and buried at Hamburg Cemetery, Ohlsdorf, Germany. The
other four crew were not recovered and they are commemorated at Runnymede.
31 May 1942 48958 Pilot Officer (Wireless Operator/Air Gunner) Dudley
Arthur Ronald Tallis, DFM, RAFVR, 21, of Shirley. Wellington R1235 of 22
Operational Training Unit (Wellesbourne Mountford, Warwickshire) was lost
during the “Thousand Bomber Raid” on Köln. His DFM was gazetted on 9 May
1941 when he was serving as a Sergeant (service no. 624867) with 102
Squadron. Buried at Rheinberg War Cemetery, Germany.
13 June 1942 1230400 AC1 Dennis John Glover, RAFVR, 21, ^Ìon active
service¹, of Olton. Buried at Solihull (Robin Hood) Cemetery.
27 July 1942 1165262 Sgt Stanley James Oertel, RAFVR, 142 Squadron
(Grimsby), 20, of Shirley. Wellington Z1376, which took off at 2312 hours,
lost without trace from operations to Hamburg. Commemorated at the Air
Forces Memorial, Runnymede, Egham, having no known grave.
6 September 1942 1380777 Sergeant (Wireless Operator/Air Gunner) Ronald
William Hewett, RAFVR, 1 (Coastal) Operational Training Unit (Silloth,
Cumberland). Hudson N7235 flew into hillside while descending through cloud
during navigation exercise. Hit high ground of Kirland Fell above Wild Boar
Scar at approximately 2,200 feet, below Cross Fell and close to a steep
gulley leading down to Crowdundle Beck, about 8 miles N of Appleby. Main
wreckage cleared by No.83 Maintenance Unit, but some still to be found
scattered on the rough fellside in June 1986. All five crew killed. Buried
at Solihull (Robin Hood) Cemetery.
7 September 1942 100634 Flight Lieutenant (Pilot) Neville Arthur Bennitt,
DFC, RAFVR, 7 Squadron (Oakington), 31, of Shirley. Stirling W7629 (MG-Z)
crashed on the Baaler Bruch, 6km SSW of Goch, during operations to Duisburg.
Buried at Reichswald Forest War Cemetery, Germany.
13 September 1942 37906 Squadron Leader Richard Theobald Collier, RAF, 156
Squadron (Warboys), 28. Wellington BJ789 missing without trace from
operations to Bremen. Parents lived at Solihull. Commemorated at the Air
Forces Memorial, Runnymede, Egham, having no known grave.
14 September 1942 Sub-Lieutenant (A) Gordon Allison Fraser, RNVR, HMS
Condor, 767/769 Squadron (Arbroath), 20. Fairey Swordfish L2861 failed to
return from night navigation exercise in bad weather. Son of Revd Albert
Edward Fraser MA of Solihull Rectory. Commemorated at the Fleet Air Arm
Memorial, Lee-on-Solent, Hampshire, having no known grave.
22 September 1942 1204717 Flight Sergeant (Pilot) Frederic Winston Hill,
RAFVR. Wife lived at Hall Green. Buried at Solihull (Robin Hood) Cemetery.
2 October 1942 657611 Sergeant (Observer) John Thomas Jones, RAFVR, 218
Squadron (Downham Market), 24. Stirling N3763 crashed at Hubertus, Germany,
during operations to Lübeck. Wife lived at Shirley. Originally buried at
Vorwerk but after the war reburied, along with his crewmates, at Hamburg
Cemetery, Ohlsdorf, Germany.
7 November 1942 107491 Flying Officer (Pilot) William Tony Edward Voller,
RAFVR, 96 Squadron (Honiley, Warwickshire), of Southall, Middlesex. Killed
when Beaufighter X7920 flew into trees at Loxley, Warwickshire, following
instrument failure at night. Buried at St Mary Churchyard, neighbouring
Balsall Cemetery, Temple Balsall.
8 November 1942 118532 Pilot Officer George Cruise Griffin, RAFVR, 165
Squadron (Tangmere, Sussex). Spitfire EP381, escorting B-17 bombers to
France during Circus 235, was shot down in combat with Fw 190. Aircraft
crashed into Channel, from which body was recovered. Buried at the
Franciscan Cemetery, Olton.
28 December 1942 1164594 Leading Aircraftman Gilbert Bayley, RAFVR, 22, of
Sheffield. Buried at Solihull (Robin Hood) Cemetery.
30 December 1942 1198310 Sergeant (Wireless Operator/Air Gunner) Charles
Bernard Ridge, RAFVR. Buried at Solihull (Robin Hood) Cemetery.
8 January 1943 126946 Flying Officer (Pilot) George Evelyn Brooke Turner,
RAFVR, 222 Squadron (Spitfires at Ayr), 19, of Solihull. Buried at Brookwood
Military Cemetery, Surrey.
28 January 1943 656761 Sergeant (Pilot) Cecil Francis Beechey, RAF, 197
Squadron (Drem), 22, of Hall Green. Killed when tail of Typhoon DN364 broke
off and aircraft disintegrated, East Linton, East Lothian. Buried at
Solihull (Robin Hood) Cemetery.
12 February 1943 851362 Corporal Arthur Andrew Guest, RAF (Auxiliary AF),
916 Balloon Squadron, 21. Wife lived at Solihull. Buried at the Franciscan
Cemetery, Olton.
5 March 1943 1464583 Sergeant (Navigator) Thomas Francis John Glover,
RAFVR, 25. Wife lived at Olton. Killed on active service. Buried at SS John
the Baptist, Lawrence & Ann Churchyard, Knowle.
25 March 1943 850305 Leading Aircraftman Charles Herbert Edward Evason,
RAF, 927 Balloon Squadron, 29, of Hall Green. Buried at Solihull (Robin
Hood) Cemetery.
30 March 1943 115186 Flying Officer (Flying Instructor) William George
Cooper, RAF, 214 Squadron (Chedburgh), 29, of Branston, Lincolnshire. Only
fatality when Stirling EF362, which had returned early from operations to
Berlin due to severe icing, collided over Chedburgh with Stirling BK663 and
crashed near Oldham, 17 miles E of Cambridge. First sortie of his second
tour of duty. Buried at St James Churchyard, Stratford Road, Shirley.
6 April 1943 850161 Leading Aircraftman John McLean, RAF, 48. Mother lived
at Barrow-in-Furness, Lancashire; wife at Sparkbrook. Buried at Solihull
(Robin Hood) Cemetery.
14 April 1943 70141 Wing Commander Eric Charles Corke, RAF, 41. Wife lived
in Edgbaston. Buried at St Nicholas Churchyard, Elmdon.
5 May 1943 1575418 Sergeant (Navigator/Bomber) Thomas Cox, RAFVR, 10
Squadron (Melbourne), 33. Killed when Halifax JD105, diverting to Leeming in
marginal weather on return from operations to Dortmund, crashed at Hood
Range Farm, Sutton Bank, Yorkshire. Parents lived in Solihull; wife at
Sheldon. Buried at St Nicholas Churchyard, Elmdon.
6 May 1943 1226415 Corporal William John Dunn Powell, RAFVR. Wife lived at
Shirley. Buried at St James Churchyard, Stratford Road, Shirley.
13 May 1943 1219445 Sergeant (Bomb Aimer) Gerard Scully, RAFVR, 77 Squadron
(Elvington, Yorkshire), 21, of Edgbaston. Killed when Halifax JB865 crashed
in bad weather at Bishop Wilton, Yorkshire, on return from Duisburg. Buried
at the Franciscan Cemetery, Olton.
15 May 1943 940641 Flight Sergeant John Alfred Rolfe, RAFVR, 228 Squadron
(Sunderlands at Pembroke Dock), 27, of Knowle. Commemorated at the Air
Forces Memorial, Runnymede, Egham, having no known grave.
25 June 1943 1222832 Sgt (Air Gnr) Kenneth Cyril Christopher Adams, RAFVR,
156 Squadron (Warboys), 30, of Shirley. Lancaster ED858 crashed near Köln
during operations to Wuppertal. Originally buried in Köln area on 29 June
- Now buried at Rheinberg War Cemetery, Germany.
8 July 1943 150000 Flying Officer (Pilot) Geoffrey Chambers, RAFVR, 21, of
Hall Green. Buried at Solihull (Robin Hood) Cemetery.
19 July 1943 Cadet Arthur Richard Davis, Air Training Corps, 16, of Balsall
Common. Killed when Oxford HN772 of 285 Squadron (Honiley), on anti-aircraft
co-operation exercise, broke up while recovering from dive and crashed at
Frier Park, West Bromwich. Buried at St Mary Churchyard, neighbouring
Balsall Cemetery, Temple Balsall.
25 July 1943 127923 Flying Officer George G Such, RAFVR, 76 Squadron
(Holme-on-Spalding Moor), 21, of Olton. Halifax DK187 (MP:M) presumed lost
over North Sea during operations to Hamburg. Body washed ashore and
originally buried at Tönning Evangelical Lutheran Friedhof. Since
re-interred at Hamburg Cemetery, Ohlsdorf, Germany.
7 August 1943 1st Officer John Charles Shirley, Air Transport Auxiliary, - Wife lived at Dorridge. Buried at St Lawrence Churchyard, Meriden.
11 August 1943 1575884 Sergeant (Pilot) Spencer George Cochrane, RAFVR, 30
Operational Training Unit (Hixon), 20, of Shirley. Wellington HE390 collided
with Master W9073 of 5 (Pilots) Advanced Flying Unit (Tern Hill) and crashed
near Seighford. Buried at Stafford Cemetery.
18 August 1943 128669 Flying Officer (Navigator) Albert Joseph Perkins,
RAFVR, 35 Squadron (Graveley), 27. Halifax HR862 crashed near Greifswald
during operations to Peenemünde. Wife lived at Marston Green. Buried at
Berlin 1939-1945 War Cemetery, Germany.
24 August 1943 1197665 Sgt Dennis Arthur Hewitt, RAFVR, 622 Squadron
(Mildenhall), 21, of Shirley. Stirling BF521, coded GI-H, crashed near
Döbernitz during operations to Berlin. Commemorated at the Air Forces
Memorial, Runnymede, Egham, having no known grave.
23 September 1943. 51326 Flying Officer (Pilot) Kenneth Rees Burbeck, RAF,
100 Squadron (Grimsby, Lincolnshire), 23, of Shirley. Lancaster ED883 (HW-V)
lost during operations to Mannheim. Buried with the rest of his crew at
Rheinberg War Cemetery, Germany.
23 September 1943 1577578 Sergeant (Air Gunner) John Mallaber, RAFVR, 97
Squadron (Bourn), 23, of Hampton-in-Arden. Lancaster ED868, which took off
at 1939 hours, crashed at Ruchhein, 10km W of Ludwigshafen, during
operations to Mannheim, killing entire crew. Originally buried at Ruccheim,
now interred at Rheinberg War Cemetery, Germany.
25 September 1943 656459 Flight Sergeant Leslie John Lowndes, RAFVR, 307
Squadron (Predannack, Cornwall), 23. Mosquito HJ658 (EW:X) shot down into
sea by Fw 190 while returning from Instep patrol over Bay of Biscay. Son of
Jack and Maude Lowndes; husband of Isabel Lowndes, of Shirley. Commemorated
at the Air Forces Memorial, Runnymede, Egham (Panel 137), having no known
grave. The other crew member, Flg Sgt Ivor Cotton, RAFVR, of Rushall,
Staffordshire, is also commemorated at Runnymede.
16 January 1944 1663477 AC2 Roy Vernon St George Desborough, RAFVR, 20, of
Shirley. Buried at St James Churchyard, Stratford Road, Shirley.
20 January 1944 139487 Flight Lieutenant (Air Bomber) William George Ross,
DFC, DFM, RAFVR, 83 Squadron (Wyton), 28. Lancaster JB461 crashed in suburb
of Berlin during operations there. Wife lived at Solihull. His DFM was
gazetted on 15 June 1943, when he was serving with 106 Squadron. He was a
Sergeant, service no. 1357031, at the time. Buried at the Berlin 1939-1945
War Cemetery.
29 January 1944 1581636 Sgt Leslie Gordon Sandilands, RAFVR, 77 Squadron
(Elvington, Yorkshire), 21, of Knowle. Only fatality when Halifax LK711 was
hit by flak at 17-18,000 feet E of Berlin during operations to that city.
(Rest of crew taken Prisoners of War.) Commemorated at the Air Forces
Memorial, Runnymede, Egham, having no known grave.
29 January 1944 118161 Flight Lieutenant (Pilot) Horace Robert Hyde, RAFVR,
83 Squadron (Wyton), 32. Lancaster JA967, coded OL:S, collided with 467
Squadron Lancaster over Danish island of Als during operations to Berlin.
Wife lived at Shirley. Buried at Aabenraa Cemetery, Jutland, Denmark, on 2
February 1944.
7 February 1944 1578129 Sergeant (Navigator) Leslie Norman Singer, RAFVR,
21, of Acocks Green. Buried at Solihull (Robin Hood) Cemetery.
20 February 1944 1579353 Sergeant Albert Edward Barlow, RAFVR, 166 Squadron
(Kirmington), 21, of Shirley. Lancaster ME637, coded AS:F, lost without
trace from operations to Leipzig. Commemorated at the Air Forces Memorial,
Runnymede, Egham, having no known grave.
21 February 1944 141093 Flying Officer (Pilot) Peter Cecil Ryde, RAFVR, of
Maidenhead, Berkshire. (Believed killed in Hurricane Z4705 of 63 Operational
Training Unit, based at Honiley.) Buried at St Mary Churchyard, neighbouring
Balsall Cemetery, Temple Balsall.
8 March 1944 P.0983 Porucznik (Lieutenant) Zdzislaw Ingling, Polish Air
Force, 300 Squadron (Wellingtons at Faldingworth), 26. Pilot of aircraft
that collided over bombing range, possibly with a Lancaster of 1 Lancaster
Finishing School (Hemswell). The other six crew members are buried at
Newark-upon-Trent. Believed wife lived in Hall Green. Buried at Solihull
(Robin Hood) Cemetery.
15 March 1944 134586 Flying Officer (Navigator) Herbert Keith Sheasby,
RAFVR, 9 Squadron (Bardney), 31. Lancaster HK540, coded WS:H, missing from
operations to Stuttgart. Wife lived at Shirley. Buried at Durnbach War
Cemetery, Germany.
31 March 1944 1486732 Sergent (Flight Engineer) Arthur Ronald Morgan,
RAFVR, 50 Squadron (Lancasters at Skellingthorpe), 23, of Shirley. Lancaster
LM394, coded VN:R, attacked by night fighter during operations to Nürnberg
and crashed at Beilstein. Buried at Hanover War Cemetery, Germany.
31 March 1944 1809799 Sergeant (Flight Engineer) Norman Leslie Wallis,
RAFVR, 625 Squadron (Kelstern), 19, of Shirley. Lancaster W5009, coded CF:Z,
shot down by night fighter while outbound to Nürnberg, falling 3km SW of
Udenbreth. Buried at Rheinberg War Cemetery, Germany.
1 April 1944 52808 Flying Officer (Pilot) Ronald Emerson (Pat) Ross, MBE,
MM, RAF, 1656 Heavy Conversion Unit (Lindholme), 31, of Solihull. Killed
when Halifax JP190, on cross-country flight, hit high ground near Berwick.
Buried at the RAF Regional Cemetery, Blacon Cemetery, Chester.
8 July 1944 1578305 Sergeant (Pilot) Joseph Francis Woolley, RAFVR, 350
Squadron (Spitfires at Westhampnett), 21. Buried at the Franciscan Cemetery,
Olton.
27 July 1944 522583 Warrant Officer (Wireless Operator [Air]) John Robert
West, RAF, 512 Squadron (Broadwell), 27. Killed when Dakota FZ610 crashed
near Tealing airfield. Buried at Solihull (Robin Hood) Cemetery.
12 August 1944 1660460 Sergeant (Flight Engineer) Leslie Sanderson, RAFVR,
23, of Shirley. Buried at St James Churchyard, Stratford Road, Shirley.
13 August 1944 178710 Pilot Officer Raymond Joseph Cooke, RAFVR, 158
Squadron (Lissett), 22, of Solihull. Halifax MZ367, coded NP:I, missing
without trace from operations to Braunschweig (Brunswick). Commemorated at
the Air Forces Memorial, Runnymede, Egham, having no known grave. He
belonged to a crew that had flown more than 30 operations since arriving at
Lissett in March.
27 August 1944 1735535 Sergeant (Flight Engineer) Hubert Henry Brown,
RAFVR, 622 Squadron (Lancasters at Mildenhall). Buried at St James
Churchyard, Stratford Road, Shirley.
18 October 1944 1218832 Flt Sgt (W.Op/Air Gnr) Dennis Gordon Holyoak,
RAFVR, 630 Sqaudron (Lancasters at East Kirkby), 21. Parents lived in
Birmingham. Buried at Birmingham (Yardley) Cemetery.
20 October 1944 1235719 Flt Sgt (Plt) Cecil Peter Lawrence, RAFVR, 18
(Pilots) Advanced Flying Unit, 20, of Moseley. FRMetsS. Buried at Whinfield
Cemetery, Rugby, Warwickshire.
1 November 1944 182007 Plt Off (Plt) Norman Harold Godwin, RAFVR, 6OTU, 24,
of Northfield. Engine of Wellington MP680 cut after take-off and aircraft
slipped into ground, Silloth, Cumberland. Buried at St Laurence Churchyard
Extension, Northfield.
5 November 1944 154627 Flg Off (Air Bomber) Neville Urbane Bibb, RAFVR, 21,
of Harborne. Buried at Cambridge City Cemetery (RAF Regional Cemetery).
11 November 1944 1153842 AC1 Arthur Edwin Bagnall, RAFVR, 45, of
Birmingham. Buried at Birmingham (Witton) Cemetery.
18 November 1944 170204 Flg Off (Plt) Norman Charles Blackband, AFC, RAFVR,
35 Squadron (Lancasters at Graveley), 24, of Birmingham. Buried at Oscott
College Cemetery.
22 November 1944 1211299 Sgt (Air Gnr) Maurice Benjamin Henley, RAFVR, 630
Squadron (Lancasters at East Kirkby), 22, of West Heath. Buried at Harrogate
(Stonefall) Cemetery, RAF Regional Cemetery, Yorkshire.
25 November 1944 D/226940 Ldg Sea Reginald Thomas Rowse, RN, HMS Merganser,
- Buried at Christ Church Churchyard, Yardley Wood.
25 November 1944 1668068 AC1 Sidney Taylor, RAFVR, 24, of Balsall Heath.
Buried at Birmingham (Brandwood End) Cemetery.
27 November 1944 1106297 Sgt (Flt Engr) Dennis Alfred Bayliss, RAFVR,
189Sqn (Lancasters at Fulbeck), 24, of Erdington. Buried at St Barnabas
Churchyard, Erdington.
27 November 1944 183417 Pilot Officer Francis Barrington Shaw, RAFVR, 254
Squadron (Beaufighters at North Coates), 21, of Shirley. Commemorated at the
Air Forces Memorial, Runnymede, Egham, having no known grave.
29 November 1944 1611842 Sgt Leslie Altman, RAFVR, 39. Buried in Jewish
section of Birmingham (Witton) Cemetery.
7 December 1944 2221707 Sergeant (Flight Engineer) Martin Carty, RAFVR, 36.
Parents lived in Birmingham; wife lived at Billesley. Buried at the
Franciscan Cemetery, Olton.
18 December 1944 1580053 Flight Sergeant (Navigator) Dennis William Harris,
RAFVR, 3 Lancaster Finishing School (Feltwell), 23, of King¹s Heath. Killed
when Lancaster R5674 collided in air with Lancaster R5846 (also of 3LFS) and
crashed at Hockwold, Norfolk. Buried at the Franciscan Cemetery, Olton.
31 January 1945 962753 Corporal Edwin Ivor Pears, RAFVR, 27. Parents lived
at Shirley. Buried at St James Churchyard, Stratford Road, Shirley.
17 February 1945 116985 Flight Lieutenant (Pilot) Theodore Norman Gerald
Winning, RAFVR, 51 Squadron (Snaith), 31. Halifax MZ765, outbound to Wesel,
crashed into gully at Manning’s Heath golf course, near Horsham, Sussex,
following fire in starboard inner engine which started over Oxford. Flt Lt
Winning managed to get out of the aircraft but slipped through his parachute
harness. Wife lived at Tanner’s Green, Worcestershire. Buried at St Nicholas
Churchyard, Elmdon.
22 February 1945 129379 Flight Lieutenant (Navigator) David Potts, RAFVR,
487 (RNZAF) Squadron (Mosquitoes at B.87 Rosières-en-Santerre), 24, of
Solihull. Buried at Becklingen War Cemetery, Soltau, Germany.
18 April 1945 2220647 Sergeant (Wireless Operator/Air Gunner) James Brian
Egan, RAFVR, 20, of Olton. Buried at the Franciscan Cemetery, Olton.
26 April 1945 R/263505 LAC George Edwin Matikka, RCAF, 20, of Finland,
Ontario. Died of natural causes, Marston Green Canadian Hospital. Fire
fighter. Buried at Chester (Blacon) Cemetery, RAF Regional Cemetery.
19 July 1945 167142 Flying Officer (Navigator) Basil Archer Smith, RAFVR,
14 Elementary Flying Training School (Elmdon), 22. Tiger Moth T7222 stalled
during low aerobatics and hit ground, Eastern Green Farm, Allesley,
Staffordshire. Wife lived in Catford, London. Buried at St Nicholas
Churchyard, Elmdon.
23 July 1945 937108 Corporal Howard Kenneth Grosvener Deacon, RAFVR. Buried
at SS Mary & Bartholemew Churchyard, Hampton-in-Arden.
29 April 1946 850275 Leading Aircraftman Clifford George Brain, RAF. Buried
at St James Churchyard, Stratford Road, Shirley.
12 October 1946 L/FX 82614 PO Air Fitter (E) Thomas Edward Truelove, RN,
HMS Daedalus. Buried at St Mary Churchyard, neighbouring Balsall Cemetery,
Temple Balsall.
27 October 1947 1735204 Leading Aircraftman Wilfred Allan Buxcey, RAFVR, - Wife lived in Birmingham. Buried at Solihull (Robin Hood) Cemetery.
19 February 1949 Squadron Leader A R Rush, 28. Buried at St Mary
Churchyard, neighbouring Balsall Cemetery, Temple Balsall.
13 December 1950 Air Commodore Richard Francis Osborne, 60. Buried at St
Mary Churchyard, neighbouring Balsall Cemetery, Temple Balsall.
Last Modified 12th March 2001