MikeHoulder
April 15, 2014 at 1:43 pm

F/Sgt Harold Bryan Livingston Gittens, 11 OTU, KAS 15th Dec 1941

An expat Brit, I live on an Estancia in Argentina owned by my family now for 84 years.
Harold Gittins was born and raised on this Estancia, his father was the then manager. His sister still lives and is due to pay us a visit sometime soon.

I would dearly like to erect a memorial to Harold in time for his sister’s visit. I was thinking of a plaque that I could place in a prominent location If anyone could give me help both on further details of Harold’s service and with suggestions as to the plaque itself, I would be most grateful.

I have this information:
Harold left Argentina for Canada in Sept. 1940 where he joined the RCAFVR. His service number was R/74283. At the time of his death he was 24 years old and serving with 11 OTU. His crew position that night in Wellington X3170 was Air Observer. Control of the Wellington was lost and it entered a vertical dive and impacted on the ground near Upwood, Huntingdonshire. All on board were killed. Harold is buried in Bassingbourn Cementery, Cambridgeshire.

What function did the crew position of Air Observer have in the Wellington?

Is it possible for someone near at hand to Bassingbourn Cementery, either to have an existing photo of his grave or to be able to take one.
Any other information would be great.

Google has just one entry for Harold and it is mine which I posted on an Argentine website in 2010. I cringe a bit when I look at it now.

Many thanks, folks.
Mike

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By: Thunderbird167 - 15th April 2014 at 15:49

Mike,

Only too pleased to help

I look forward to the outcome of your tribute and hope it strikes a chord with his family

It is good to see the interest in one of the numerous aircrew that paid the price

Just to answer your question on the Observer speciality have a look at the Wiki entry http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Air_observer

Or in the works of an Air Observer

http://www.aviationancestry.com/Recruitment/RafRecruit/RafRecruit-AircrewObserver-1941-2.html

http://www.aviationancestry.com/Recruitment/RafRecruit/RafRecruit-Observer-1941-15.html

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By: MikeHoulder - 15th April 2014 at 15:18

Many, many thanks, Dave and Eric.
Mike

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By: Thunderbird167 - 15th April 2014 at 14:07

A Bit more digging from http://rcaffingal.blogspot.co.uk/2012/11/blog-post_25.html

He was on No 4 Bombing and Gunnery School

Course 19: May 26 – July 5, 1941

Wing Commander W.D. Van Vliet presented wings to graduates.

+(AUS.400029) Laurance David Orbuck, +(NZ403573) Gordon McDonald Frostick, +(NZ403558) Selwyn Charles Orme, +(R/74283) Harold Bryan Livingston Gittins, Argentina, Kenneth Frederick Hampton Hale, (R/56265) Hubert Brooks

Details of the loss of the aircraft are on the link below on Page 34

http://www.awm.gov.au/catalogue/research_centre/pdf/rc09125z022_1.pdf