Hi chaps,
I was mooching about Beeston cemetery today when I came upon this grave, the inscription has intrigued me.
1003684 BELL, William Henry
Aircraftsman 1st Class
22:01:1942 (36)
He gave his life trying to save his comrades from a burning plane.
I have looked through the relevant volumes of Chorley’s Bomber Command Losses, but I cannot find any mention of him, and was wondering if any Forum members could shed some light on the incident?
A similar request for the following chap, interred in Breaston Cemetery, Derbyshire:
1833449 HILL, Thurston
Leading Aircraftsman
04:04:1947 (44)
RAFVR
Many thanks in advance,
Don
By: Alan Clark - 2nd February 2014 at 00:55
It is interesting that the ground casualties are listed in the casualty communiques in Flight as Died on Active Service while those on the aircraft are Killed in Action. I would have thought being killed in an explosion such as this would have warranted the usual Killed on Active Service as from a research point of view we tend to discount anyone down as DOAS from aircraft accidents.
By: critter592 - 1st February 2014 at 15:58
Many thanks chaps. :eagerness:
By: Ross_McNeill - 1st February 2014 at 14:52
Not with an Ian Allan logo.
Ross
By: Ian Hunt - 1st February 2014 at 14:20
CCL2
No.407 Sqn Hudson AM602 coded RR-M
… Credit the draft RAF Coastal Command Losses, Vol 2
Ross
… Which hopefully we’ll be able to see in print one day soon?
Ian
By: Ross_McNeill - 1st February 2014 at 10:25
No.407 Sqn Hudson AM602 coded RR-M
Took off for shipping strike at 22:40 hrs
Flaps raised on second circuit then stalled at 300 feet during an overshoot at Donna Nook, hit the ground and bombs exploded at 03:10 hrs. Sgt Duval rests in Gilroes Cemetery, Leicester, Sgt Romain in St.Mary Churchyard, Walthamstow, P/O Dann and Sgt Gaudet, of Rainy River, Ontario, locally in St. Nicholas Churchyard, North Cotes. Sgt Wilkins, from Ottawa, Ontario, is commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial.
In addition to the listed aircrew, 19 ground crew and 2 army men, trying to help the crew from the wreckage were also killed in the accident.
Credit the draft RAF Coastal Command Losses, Vol 2
Ross
By: Ian Hunt - 1st February 2014 at 09:19
Alan
If North Coates, wasn’t that a Coastal Command airfield – hence wouldn’t be in BCL?
Ian
By: Alan Clark - 1st February 2014 at 02:48
Hill died in the Ilkeston area, presumably natural causes.
Bell seems to have died in an incident involving either an aircraft or equipment which has a North Coates connection. His death is registered along with several other personnel some of whom are buried at North Coates. A WO/AG who is among them is listed in Flight as Killed in Action but Bell and the others (all ACs & LACs) are down as Died on Active Service. Normally that would not be used for an aircraft accident, or even something like a bomb dump explosion.
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February 1, 2014 at 1:14 am