I am trying to find additional information on a WWII RAF aircraft loss.
Here’s the details i have:
Beaufighter Mk II T3384 of 54 OTU RAF. Lost at sea 23/11/43.
The crew was Flying Officer Mark Stokes RAAF and Flight/Sgt Ross Barber RAAF. The loss was listed as a flying accident.
I am trying to find out more for a relative of Flight/Sgt Barber but have only been able to get the basics from the Australian War Memorial and the National Archives of Australia and a little info on 54 OTU, which i believe was a night fighter training unit.
Any further information anyone may have or suggestions for where else to look would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks
By: Thorgil - 23rd November 2010 at 19:06
The casualty files for both crew and their service records can be found at the link below but are not digitalised yet. A small fee is required, I think it is 28 Australian dollars.
http://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/Interface/SearchScreens/BasicSearch.aspx
Insert the service numbers and you will see the files available. series A705 files are for casualty repatriation and usually have the report of the accident and inquiry papers. Series A9300 are the individuals service record.
By: MerlinPete - 22nd November 2010 at 23:18
Air Britain has it listed as having “iced up” before going in.
The aircraft was previously with 410 Sqn
Pete
By: Batman - 22nd November 2010 at 21:43
I know that in 1942, 54 OTU with Beaufighters was based at RAF Church Fenton, Yorkshire. Later that year it moved north to RAF Charter Hall, Berwickshire, where it stayed and later converted in 1944 to the Mosquito.
Also I see in “Fighter Nights, 456 Sqn RAAF” that Mark Stokes was a navigator who had previously served on 456 Sqn (where he had been crewed with pilot Fred Stevens) prior to his fatal crash on 54 OTU.
His bio details are: “FLGOFF M A Stokes, 402620, 456 Sqn, 51 OTU, 54 OTU. Originally motor mechanic of Sydney NSW. Born Sydney 24 Feb 1919. Killed in flying accident 23 Nov 1943.”
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November 22, 2010 at 8:44 pm