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General => Armed Forces => World War Two => Topic started by: griffo on Wednesday 27 March 13 16:47 GMT (UK)
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Enquiring for a friend about a collision at Shaloofa concerning two Aircraft of 37 Squadron
they dont know if the planes were Lancasters or Wellingtons but their
Numbers were W 5685 and W5622, they were taking off for a bombing raid on Meleme Crete.
Any Info gratefully recieved, Aircrew if at all possible.
Cheers Griffo
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On cwgc site I found 6 men died that date but you can use various options in advaced search to see if there are others.
http://www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead.aspx?cpage=1
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Hi Griffo,
Just send you a PM because we are unable to notify you of replies to your postings. Can you either send me a PM or click on the "Contact Support" button.
Thanks
Sarah :)
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Enquiring for a friend about a collision at Shaloofa concerning two Aircraft of 37 Squadron
they dont know if the planes were Lancasters or Wellingtons but their
Numbers were W 5685 and W5622, they were taking off for a bombing raid on Meleme Crete.
Any Info gratefully recieved, Aircrew if at all possible.
Cheers Griffo
Most assuredly Wellingtons. The Lancaster was never used in the Middle East theatre. These were two of four 37 Sqn Wellingtons lost on this date.
From "Bomber Losses in the Middle East and Mediterranean - Volume 1: 1939-1942" by David Gunby and Pelham Temple (Midland Publishing 2006):
W5685 veered across the path of W5622 despite receiving the okay for takeoff. Both aircraft caught fire and bombs exploded on both.
W5685's crew:
F/Sgt JW Kenner+
Sgt JM Milne+
P/O RSCN St John-Spencer+
Sgt JEG Dovey+
Sgt Smith inj
W5622's crew:
Sgt HN Goodall RNZAF+
Sgt JD Decent+
Sgt Higgins inj
Sgt Fraser inj
Sgt Wickham inj
Sgt Buxton inj
Sgt Decent died on 30th May, Sgt Goodall on 5th June.
Regards,
DTD
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Thank you so very much for the information that you have supplied my friend will be delighted
so thanks for the time taken Griffo
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Dear Griffo,
My wife's uncle was Sgt James E G Dovey. (19)
In his personal diaries he referred to his flying friends as
John (presume pilot Kenner (25)) Spence (navigator presume St John Spencer) Marshal (was that Milne? or second pilot from earlier team?) Lucky (was that Sgt Smith - rear gunner?)
Do you have a connection with any of these other crew?
Regards
Portzed
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Hi No I don`t have any connection with any of the crew as I was asking on behalf of a friend, who was looking into the folk who had given their lives during the war. These people had been in the Scouts Troop . and your wifes uncle was the person she had been looking for any information on, I think it was something to do with 100th Anniversary of the Troop which is based in Stoke on trent. I will pass this info on to her. So thanks for your input
Cheers Griffo
Dear Griffo,
My wife's uncle was Sgt James E G Dovey. (19)
In his personal diaries he referred to his flying friends as
John (presume pilot Kenner (25)) Spence (navigator presume St John Spencer) Marshal (was that Milne? or second pilot from earlier team?) Lucky (was that Sgt Smith - rear gunner?)
Do you have a connection with any of these other crew?
Regards
Portzed
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Hi Griffo,
Yes, he was from the Stoke on Trent area.
I look forward to them contacting me email address removed by moderator, please use the private message function to exchange private information.
Regards
Portzed