Does anyone out there have access to the operational record books for 61 Squadron at RAF Syerston from the 6th of August 1942 until the beginning of October the same year? I know they are available at the PRO at Kew but I am unable to get there at the moment due to health reasons.
I am particularly interested in the following crew:
Sgt. Leavis Wilson Morrison.
Sgt. Cedric Nils Coldicott.
Flt. Sgt. John Alvin Duffield.
Sgt. Alexander McGee Cormack.
Sgt. Edwin Dyson.
Sgt. Thomas Ralph Bevan.
Flt. Sgt. William Young Emerslund.
Their Lancaster, R5679 was shot down over Denmark at 02.13 on the 25th of September 1942 while returning from a minelaying operation to the Baltic.
I would like to know how many operations this crew completed before they were shot down and which operations they were.
Hope someone can help.
Regards,
kev35
By: czechmate - 3rd August 2005 at 00:06
There’s no one of this name listed in Bomber Command losses (OTUs) or in the regular squadrons for this date. Could he have died of injuries on that date, having been involved in an accident at an earlier date, or was his death not flight related such as natural causes or in a road accident?
I’d try this query, with the correct name, on the RAF Commands forum here http://www.rafcommands.com/cgi-bin/dcforum/dcboard.cgi?az=list&forum=DCForumID6&conf=DCConfID1 This sounds like something right up their street.
Geoff.
Thanks for that. I got the same info from the same source but no more, I was told that Sgt Workman died as a result of “a crash” but you are right it may have been prior to the date of death. Will try what you suggest.
Again thanks
Czechers
By: Geoff K - 2nd August 2005 at 21:23
From the CWGC website – WORKMAN, GEORGE WILLIAM
Initials: G W
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Flight Sergeant (Pilot)
Regiment: Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
Age: 21
Date of Death: 17/08/1942
Service No: 923432
Additional information: Son of George and Lilian Workman, of Chalford Hill.
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: North of vestry.
Cemetery: FRANCE LYNCH (ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST) CHURCHYARD
There’s no one of this name listed in Bomber Command losses (OTUs) or in the regular squadrons for this date. Could he have died of injuries on that date, having been involved in an accident at an earlier date, or was his death not flight related such as natural causes or in a road accident?
I’d try this query, with the correct name, on the RAF Commands forum here http://www.rafcommands.com/cgi-bin/dcforum/dcboard.cgi?az=list&forum=DCForumID6&conf=DCConfID1 This sounds like something right up their street.
Geoff.
By: kev35 - 13th November 2002 at 11:41
RE: Help please?
Moggy,
thanks for that. The aircraft was six hours and twenty three minutes into it’s last operation when it was shot down. Isn’t it strange the way something really grabs your attention like this. I’ve put quite a lot of hours now into researching this aircraft and crew and have come up with a fair bit of information with the help of various people. Yet still I want to know more…
Regards,
kev35
By: Moggy C - 13th November 2002 at 08:26
RE: Help please?
Kev,
Not the question you asked but, the aircraft itself joined 61 Sq on 20th June and clocked up 165 hours before the 25 September.
Moggy
Sign In
November 12, 2002 at 8:52 pm