Any of you chaps know what this means?

You’ve certainly put in a lot of effort there, DCK. Unfortunate that nothing has turned up – yet. Been trying to think of other possible people to try but I don’t suppose the likes of the NHS would give any details. Nursing Homes? – so many it would be hard to know where to begin. Her name and the population of the area make it a bit like the proverbial needle in the haystack. Sad to think too that had Major Lundsten not been lost and their marriage had gone ahead, you would be looking for someone with a more uncommon name.

Yes indeed. Nursing homes I’m not sure about, I think they are usually by law not able to give out much information? If they had married in 43 this would have been much easier indeed. Not giving up, but taking a bit of a break right now. 🙂

I found this one though, a memorial service for a Mr. Eric Newby in 2007. A Miss Sheila Lee is listed. The area fits.

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If you want to take a look, here’s all I gathered on the name and the address.

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.801342793213463.1073741827.219792741368474&type=1&l=c638476586

You’ve certainly put in a lot of effort there, DCK. Unfortunate that nothing has turned up – yet. Been trying to think of other possible people to try but I don’t suppose the likes of the NHS would give any details. Nursing Homes? – so many it would be hard to know where to begin. Her name and the population of the area make it a bit like the proverbial needle in the haystack. Sad to think too that had Major Lundsten not been lost and their marriage had gone ahead, you would be looking for someone with a more uncommon name.

Do you know the general area of the channel where he was last seen? A lot more surveying and marine activity has taken place since 1944. As the recent Do217 recovery shows, planes don’t just disappear once they go beneath the waves.

Utah beach. Some people say near Isigny, but no one seems to be certain. It could be either land or water basically.

Oh Sheila Lee, where did you go?

I have invested lots of time and money these past two months to get to the bottom of Major Lundstens lost fiance, but it seems that I know more about her flat in London than I know about her. In fact, I most likely know more about 292 Earl’s Court Road than I do about my own home town.

292 Earl’s Court Road where the telephone nr at the top of this thread lead to, was a rather posh family home in 1911, housing a family with three sons and at least two servants. What happened to the family between 1911 and the 1930’s is anyones guess. Worl war one? Sickness? Or they simply moved? No idea.

292 was made into flats some time in the 1930s and advertised in the newspapers as such. Sheila Lee got into the frame in 1943. Either she bought/rented it herself, or it was a joint effort from her and Major Lundsten. Lundsten was in 1943 a test pilot at RAF Worthy Down (he flew MD882 just days prior to Clive Goslings famous photo shoot. Leif also picked MD882 up at RAF High Post). There is a Sheila Lee living in Colindale prior to 1943, in a quite wealthy looking house. Is it her own of her parents house? I don’t know, and it might not be the same person.

I’ve been in touch with everyone it seems. From churches to local communites to pubs, MP’s and so on. I get e-mails from people I don’t even remember sending mails to, saying they have found no records of Sheila Lee. A local woman, born pre-WWII has lived in Earls Court all her life, but does not remember Sheila Lee and says she didn’t know the neighbours at all in WWII. I am currently waiting reply from one last interesting source, a researcher at a local librarian.

A bit frustrated right now, and have backed off after that epic search. Not giving up, but I wish the girl had a more uncommon name!

It can be very frustrating searching for service records or information from WW2 Ancestry.co.uk or .com dont always have what they say they have ! different service i know but one of my relatives was in the Navy, i have his birth certificate and other service records relating to Arctic convoys then he just dissapered in 1944. No Military or civilian records exist but the RN and Merchant Navy contacts i was able to talk to came up with this explanation. RN gunners where often transferred to merchant ships for these convoys, if that was the case his records would have been removed in case he was captured as a merchant seamen with Military service numbers etc etc from that point onwards its a brick wall ? Funny though i have managed to trace history of my family back to 1149.

On the aviation front my Grans brother served as an air photographer aid alongside Churchill my winter project is to try and obtain his service record

By early 1960’s, when Miss Lee’s name was removed from the phone book, she would have been in her early 40’s. You could try searching newspapers from the area looking for deaths and marriages. Have you tried ancestry.com ? You say his father received a photograph, are you aware if all of his personal effects reached his father? The death of a service member generates a lot of paperwork, you could try the National archives for his file. In Australia, searching the National archives for a dead pilot usually provides significantly more documents about the disposition of remains and personal effects than the actual accident/loss. Do you know the general area of the channel where he was last seen? A lot more surveying and marine activity has taken place since 1944. As the recent Do217 recovery shows, planes don’t just disappear once they go beneath the waves.

Best of luck.

Lol. I do have a brain, honestly – just occasionally it glitches. That was one of those occasions!

Glad to hear about the letter – hope you hear good news back.

I’d be happy with just an answer back. I won’t give up though, and try to get to the bottom of it.

Mothminor; yes indeed I know it quite well 😀

Lol. I do have a brain, honestly – just occasionally it glitches. That was one of those occasions!

Glad to hear about the letter – hope you hear good news back.

Don’t you think you might be giving up a little too soon? You have not located the lady or her relatives. You don’t know if there were children. If he was shot down by the RN, there was a good chance it was over water, so the wreckage may still be undisturbed in situ, and remains may still be evident. Who knows, perhaps all of his wartime diaries and personal effects ended up with Miss Lee.

In my experience, a lot of people would sooner make decisions from the comfort of their study, than journey out and actually see for themselves. Going the extra distance is usually rewarding if you persist.

It is said in a letter to his father in 1945 that his personal belongings would be sent him. I do not know who gets personal belongings in these situations – the fianceé or the father. A photo was indeed sent to his father. He was shot down over the channel, last seen going into a cloud, smoking heavily and weaving like mad.

I have sent a letter to the address to be on the safe side. I am simply uncertain where one can search for people as far back as the 1960’s with no birth date to go by or anything else but an address and a name. And the name is quite common. I have narrowed the Sheilas down to around 7. Two Sheila Lees born in Kensington at the right time (1915-1925) but both had middle names. There were Sheila Lees born in Liverpool, Sunderland and a few other places as well. If you know of any website or any way of searching/narrowing it down – I will appreciate it. His family have wondered for many years too.

Mothminor; yes indeed I know it quite well 😀

DCK are you aware of this –

http://www.spitfirepilots.com/?p=388

I would give the suggestions by 43-2195 above serious consideration in order to get the personal story. If you then meet a dead-end, at least you would have the consolation of knowing you had tried.

Don’t you think you might be giving up a little too soon? You have not located the lady or her relatives. You don’t know if there were children. If he was shot down by the RN, there was a good chance it was over water, so the wreckage may still be undisturbed in situ, and remains may still be evident. Who knows, perhaps all of his wartime diaries and personal effects ended up with Miss Lee.

In my experience, a lot of people would sooner make decisions from the comfort of their study, than journey out and actually see for themselves. Going the extra distance is usually rewarding if you persist.

Sadly not asking the right questions of the right people at the right time is a not uncommon story. I’ve already posted some old family photos in a previous thread because I failed to ask the details when my parents were alive.

My first reaction on reading your story was “what a wonderful book or film it would make”. It certainly deserves a wider audience. This forum is frequented by people who are bringing “extinct” aircraft back to life from small fragments. Perhaps it’s
not too late to do the same for Leif Lundsten’s life story.

I agree, but the first hand witnesses are just not there any longer.

But to not have “saved” this young mans life story in some way or the other is bitterly disappointing.

My first reaction on reading your story was “what a wonderful book or film it would make”. It certainly deserves a wider audience. This forum is frequented by people who are bringing “extinct” aircraft back to life from small fragments. Perhaps it’s
not too late to do the same for Leif Lundsten’s life story.

Thanks for telling the story. How tragic! Often the personal lives of the airmen, soldiers, sailors, etc are ignored or forgotten by history but hearing stories like this makes their passing all the more poignant.

Very true.

I talked to his friend from middle school a few days ago. Perhaps the only person left around here now that actually knew him. He felt not disappointed, but rather sad that “all was too late” meaning this whole thing about Lundsten started too late. Should have done this in the 60’s or 70’s, but I realise research was harder then and the War still fresh in peoples memories. But to not have “saved” this young mans life story in some way or the other is bitterly disappointing. What is left are small fragments. Photos, a log book, combat reports and a couple of short stories.

Thanks for telling the story. How tragic! Often the personal lives of the airmen, soldiers, sailors, etc are ignored or forgotten by history but hearing stories like this makes their passing all the more poignant.

Didn’t dare to try the number. Scared it might take me back in time or something!

Pilots name was Leif Lundsten. He was engaged to Sheila Lee. Norwegian nationality. 331 squadron. Test pilot at RAF Worthy Down in 1943. Flew the last Mk XII for example.
Went back to 331 spring of 1944 and was supposed to lead the squadron during the invasion of Europe. Perished after being hit by friendly fire from the Royal Navy of all things.

Grew up just a short drive from me actually, therefore the special interest.

Sheila, according to the phone books, stayed in 292 Earls Court Road at least until 1962, remaining “miss” the entire time. If the books are to believed. Some time in the 50s her name
suddenly changed to Shelia, but I expect it to be a typo.

Sheila Lee was to be notified if something happened to Leif. His official records has her phone number written down with a pencil.

A long shot is that Sheila is actually of Canadian origin and someone Leif met while in training in Canada, but I consider the chance for slim to none. I don’t know when the two met. I expect it was 331 sqd pilot Martin Gran who later wrote her/called her/talked to her about Leifs passing, but Martin Gran passed away quite some time ago – so that connection is lost forever.

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Well done. Full marks for perseverance! Can you tell us any more about the story? What was the pilot’s name (original photo seems to have been removed)?

Did you try 0207 370 0409? 🙂