Visited Phyllis’s grave a couple of weeks ago still no headstone. But have noticed that on the GWGC website they have added a note, that they are in the process of doing so.

Meanwhile I have been slowly researching more about Phyllis and have found out that, she was more than a local shop girl.

Her WAAF career was short.
She joined the WAAFs in June 41 at RAF Innsworth, Gloustershire.(now Army base Imjin Barracks).
(In December 1941, No 2 WAAF Depot was opened at Innsworth and from then on the Station became increasingly associated with the Women’s branch of the service. By the end of 1941 the strength of the Station had risen to well over 4000 including trainees).

Died in hospital at RAF Kirkham Lancashire 2nd March 1942.
(In November 1941 Kirkham became the main armament training centre for the RAF, with 21 different trades and 86 different courses on equipment and weapons. Now H.M. Prison Kirkham).

Not sure if she was based at that base or another one in the area.

Her brother was present at her death.

Reason for Death.
1(a) Myocarditis
(Myocarditis is a disease marked by inflammation and damage of the heart muscle. . It is believed that 5 to 20% of all cases of sudden death in young adults are due to myocarditis. There are many causes of myocarditis, including viral infections, autoimmune diseases, environmental toxins, and adverse reactions to medications.)
(b) Lobal Pneumonia.
(Pneumonia is swelling in the lungs, it’s usually caused by an infection.
Lobal, bronchopneumonia and double pneumonia refer to same condition.)
2 Pleural Effusion.
(Excessive fluid in lungs).

Then was buried at Brancaster on 7th March 1942.

Now I am looking to find out what years, she attended these girls schools/colleges.
Rhianva College Hunstanton Norfolk (closed 1940).

Tortington Park Arundel Sussex.
Between 1922 and 1998 the estate was a boarding school for girls and, more recently, a college for American students. By the early 2000s the site was redeveloped into what it is today. Currently managed by Hobdens Property Management Ltd.

St Audreys School Somerset
St Audries Park Manor house at West Quantoxhead in the Quantock Hills of Somerset, The property was divided in 1934, when the house was sold and turned into St Audries School which remained in occupation until 1990. and is now owned and operated by Country House Wedding Ltd, specialising in weddings within country house settings.

Not as a pupil, but as a music mistress.
As you can see from the funeral report from The Lynn Advertiser friday 13th March 1942, she was a holder of L.R.A.M. (Licentiate of the Royal Academy of music.)
(Licentiate is the title of a person who holds an academic degree known as a licence or a licentiate).

Yes, same old thing from Pampa14, posted on every WW or aviation forum, from here to Timbuktu.

Hi,

A friend of me found a few round of ammunition on a spot were during the war a B17 should have crashed. One bullet is 20mm and has the marking S L 43, the other bullet is 7,9 mm. Does anyone know if these kind of ammunition was used on a B17 and what S L 43 means.

Regards,

Mathieu.

Lets look at what the o/p has said.

One bullet is 20mm and has the marking S L 43,
This has to be the casing, as this is the only place on small arms ammunition that is marked.
S L 43 means that it was made in
SL = St. Louis Ordnance Plant – St. Louis, Missouri.
(any ammunition made in Salt Lake city would have U or UT = Utah stamped on it).

One bullet is 20mm Can you get a accurate measurement within 1mm of a piece of metal which has been lying about for 70 years?
The .50 caliber round is 5.5″ (140mm) long with seated bullet. The casing alone is just under 4″ (100mm) long. The primer end of the casing where the headstamp is located is 0.75″ (19mm) diameter. The bullet is typically 2.25″ (55mm) long with 0.75″ (19mm) seated into the casing. The bullet diameter is 0.50″.

So I would say that that one is defiantly a .50 calibre as used in a browning M2 machine gun as used on a B17.

The other bullet is 7,9 mm. This one is more difficult as we do not know whether Sonderman has just the bullet or just the casing or one intact.
If just the bullet then its likely to be a German one shot at the B17.
If casing or intact one it could have come from anywhere.

The 7.92×57mm Mauser (designated as the 8mm Mauser or 8×57mm by the SAAMI and 8 × 57 IS by the C.I.P.) is a rimless bottlenecked rifle cartridge. The 7.92×57mm Mauser cartridge was adopted by the German Empire in 1905, and was the German service cartridge in both World Wars. In its day, the 7.92×57mm Mauser cartridge was one of the world’s most popular military cartridges.

So will have to wait for photo’s.

These six Germans are now listed in Find a grave.
http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gsr&GScid=2568383

The information of the amount of RAF graves are out of date and only state those up to 1947.
At the moment there are 58, with another 34 not listed will add those later.

Another myth.

Have found no mention of any crash nr Crawford. Nor any relevant Ian Thomson on CWGC A few Thompsons but none to link to Crawford.

If you was planting a forest to commemorate someone, surely you would plant it with the letters the same size and parallel to each other.

https://www.google.co.uk/maps/place/Crawford,+Biggar,+South+Lanarkshire+ML12/@55.4874188,-3.6484225,1593m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m2!3m1!1s0x4888007ad325fd9d:0x858306ecf23a3f77?hl=en-GB

Hi Gail
Yes, would be great to see the articles. Have Pm my email address.
Richard

Hi Gail. Yes would like to see the muster roll, Did you read my PM?

The National Archives files, lists the names who have served with the RAF. (No guarantee all names are there). The lists only show the name and numbers of the persons and the odd bit of info.
I found 12 Frank or F smarts and these two stood out.
Frank Smart 1510027 Militia id
Frank Smart 2268746 Militia

What did the word Militia mean, Maybe a term used by the RAF to donate those who protected Airfields and not sent for Aircrew or admin duties.

Then looked up Militia.
A militia /mɨˈlɪʃə/[1] generally is an army or other fighting force that is composed of non-professional fighters; citizens of a nation or subjects of a state or government that can be called upon to enter a combat situation, as opposed to a professional force of regular, full-time military personnel, or historically, members of the fighting nobility class (e.g., knights or samurai). It was common for militias to engage guerrilla warfare or defense instead of attacking.

id what did that mean. Usually means identification. But what if it meant Instructional duties or dept.
Then with my list of names and numbers I checked the list of numbers against the RAF list of allocated numbers.
Here. http://www.ab-ix.co.uk/rfc_raf.pdf

As the blocks of numbers are only issued to a place and date (not all numbers are issued).
Frank Smart 1510027 Militia id would fall into this block of numbers issued 1475000 to 1550000 in Apr 1941 at Padgate

Frank Smart 2268746 Militia block of numbers 2265175 to 2275000 issued Oct 1945 at Padgate Non ATC (Air Training Corps) This would rule out your grandfather as war was over at this time.

As all other numbers for Frank Smarts, fall outside of the wartime time frame, it leaves Frank Smart 1510027 Militia id Apr 1941 at Padgate the most likely candidate.

As your grandfather was 38, married with two children and running a garage, 1941 would seem to be about the time he was called up.
Of course this could be a completely different Frank Smart. Then it’s back to square one.