https://www.facebook.com/1500263240255556/

WW2 Aircrew Remembrance, Rushden (2026)

01/05/2026

Mission: Duisburg, Germany.

Date: 12/13 May 1943

Time: 02:25 hours.

Unit: No. 431 Squadron (R.C.A.F.).

Type: Vickers Wellington Mk. X

Serial: HE440

Code: SE-Y

Base: R.A.F. Burn, Yorkshire England.

Location: Huppel, Netherlands, (Holland).

Pilot: Sergeant George Wood R.A.F.V.R. Age 23. Killed.

Nav: Sgt Edward Leo Gummer 1379214 R.A.F.V.R. Age 20. Killed.

Air/Bmr: Sgt. Innis Edward Mobley. 1575533 R.A.F.V.R. Age 21. Killed.

Air/Gnr: Sgt. Thomas Smith R.A.F.V.R. Age 26 Killed.

W/Op: Sgt Andrew Cresswell. R.A.F.V.R. Age 23 Killed.

REASON FOR LOSS:

Took off at 23:32 and joined 571 other aircraft heading for Duisburg. Approximately four hours later, just short of the Dutch/German border HE440 was attacked and shot down by a Messerschmitt Me 110 flown by Oblt. Manfred Meurer of 3./NJG1. HE 440 caught fire and crashed in a wood at Huppel, near the Dutch town of Winterswijk at 02.25 on 13th May 1943. Sgt. Mobley managed to bale out of the aircraft but was too low for his parachute to deploy. His body was found some distance from the crash site.

Sgt. Innis Edward Mobley was a pupil of Moseley Grammar School from 1933 to 1938.

This was the 24th of Oblt. Manfred Meurer’s 65 confirmed kills before he died on 24th January 1944 in a mid-air collision with a Lancaster. He had been awarded the Knight's Cross with Oak Leaves.

Images;

Two clandestine images taken at the crash site of HE440 by Dutch Patriots, with great risk to them and their families. (Rhebergen).

Sgt. Innis Edward Mobley. (Townsend).

The last resting place Winterswijk Cemetery, Netherlands. (Townsend).

Innis rests with his comrades. (Townsend).

Burial details: All are buried at Winterswijk Cemetery, Netherlands.

Name: WOOD, GEORGE ROBERT YORSTON
Nationality: United Kingdom.
Rank: Sergeant (Pilot).
Regiment/Service: Royal Air Force No. 431 (R.C.A.F.) Sqdn.
Age: 23.
Date of Death: 13/05/1943.
Service No: 658403

Additional information: Son of William Mitchell Wood and Lena Lydia Wood, of North Shields, Northumberland; husband of Olive Wood, of North Shields.
Grave/Memorial Reference: Grave 27. Cemetery: WINTERSWIJK CEMETERY.

Name: GUMMER, EDWARD LEO
Nationality: United Kingdom.
Rank: Sergeant (Nav.).
Regiment/Service: Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve No. 431 (R.C.A.F.) Sqdn.
Age: 20
Date of Death: 13/05/1943
Service No: 1379214

Additional information: Son of Edward Joseph and Mary Ellen Gummer, of Accrington, Lancashire.
Grave/Memorial Reference: Grave 26. Cemetery: WINTERSWIJK CEMETERY.

Name: MOBLEY, INNIS EDWARD
Nationality: United Kingdom.
Rank: Sergeant (Bomb Aimer)
Regiment/Service: Royal Air Force No. 431 (R.C.A.F.) Sqdn.
Age: 21
Date of Death: 13/05/1943
Service No: 1575533

Additional information: Son of Arthur P. and Norah E. Mobley, of Yardley Wood, Birmingham.
Grave/Memorial Reference: Grave 28. Cemetery: WINTERSWIJK CEMETERY.

Name: CRESSWELL, ANDREW
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Sergeant (W.Op./Air Gnr).
Regiment/Service: Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve No. 431 (R.C.A.F.) Sqdn.
Age: 23
Date of Death: 13/05/1943
Service No: 1210978

Additional information: Son of Andrew and Elsie May Cresswell, of Wolverhampton.
Grave/Memorial Reference: Grave 24. Cemetery: WINTERSWIJK CEMETERY.

Name: SMITH, THOMAS HAIG
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Sergeant (W.Op./Air Gnr).
Regiment/Service: Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve No. 431 (R.C.A.F.) Sqdn.
Age: 26
Date of Death: 13/05/1943
Service No: 993817

Additional information: Son of Thomas and Lily Smith; nephew of Elizabeth Bromilow, of Leigh, Lancashire.
Grave/Memorial Reference: Grave 25. Cemetery: WINTERSWIJK CEMETERY.

Researched by Peter Rhebergen, Netherlands and Keith Townsend, historian of Moseley School war memorial records. Compiled by Melvin Brownless 2026.

01/05/2026

Mission: Dusseldorf, Germany.

Date: 10/11 September 1942

Unit: No. 83 (Pathfinder) Squadron R.A.F.

Type: Avro Lancaster I

Serial No. W4104

Coded: OL-A

Location: Neuss, Germany.

Base: Wyton.

Flying Officer. John Gordon McDonald D.F.C. J/5059 R.C.A.F. Age.25 - Killed. Son of Norman Donald and Ida Louina McDonald, of Islington, Ontario, Canada.

Sergeant. Albert George Cook 1293852 R.A.F.V.R. Age.21 - Killed. Son of George Henry and Annie Louisa Cook, of Wealdstone, Harrow, Middlesex.

Flying Officer. Harris Lewington Mazengarb 402667 R.A.A.F. Age.22 - Killed. Son of Reginald Muller Mazengarb and Alice Winifred Mazengarb, of Cammeray, New South Wales. Australia.

Sergeant. Philipp William Samwell 1195426 R.A.F.V.R. Age.21 - Killed. Son of William and Josephine Samwell, of Northampton.

Flt Sergeant. Donald John Calderwood R/68128 R.C.A.F. Age.? - Killed.

Sergeant. Graham George Millard 1179058 R.A.F.V.R. Age.? - Killed.

Flt Sergeant. Harry Raeburn Watson R/98140 R.C.A.F Age.? - Killed.

REASON FOR LOSS:

This aircraft took off from Wyton at 20.36 carrying 1 x 2000, 1 x 1900, 32 flares, 4 red flares and 4 green flares. The aircraft and crew failed to return from mission, their Lancaster crashed at Neuss due to reasons unknown. Funerals of the deceased took place in the Nordfriedhof at Dusseldorf.
Since been re-interred at the Reichswald Forest War Cemetery.

Images;

Crash site of F/O McDonald's Lancaster I W4104 at Neuss, Germany. (MRB Archive).

Believed to be the body of Sergeant. Albert George Cook. Face respectively covered. (MRB Archive).

F/O John Gordon McDonald D.F.C. (MacDonald/MRB Archive).

F/O McDonald holding niece Patricia with nephew Ian. (MacDonald/MRB Archive).

F/O John McDonald in the back yard of his parents home. (MacDonald/MRB Archive).

Norman McDonald posthumously receiving his sons D.F.C. from the Governor General in Ottawa, Canada. (MacDonald/MRB Archive).

F/Sgt Calderwood. (MRB Archive).

Service record of F/O Mazengarb. (MRB Archive).

Burial details:

Reichswald Forest War Cemetery. F/O McDonald: 11. E. 1. Sgt Cook: 11. E. 3. F/O Mazengarb: 11. D. 9. Sgt Samwell: 11. D. 10.
F/Sgt Calderwood: 11. D. 7. Sgt Millard: 11. D. 11. F/Sgt Watson: 11. D. 8. (Find a Grave).

Researched and compiled by Melvin Brownless with special thanks to the MacDonald family and the fabulous Bomber Command Losses by W. R. Chorley. (2026).

23/04/2026

Mission: Transfer Flight.

Date: 30 October 1940

Time: 01:00 Hours.

Unit: No. 115 Squadron R.A.F.

Type: Vickers Wellington Mk 1c

Serial No: T2613

Coded: KO -?

Base: R.A.F. Marham, Norfolk. T/O 24:00 hours.

Location: Iver, Buckinghamshire, England.

Crew:

Pilot: P/O Alexander John Roberts Pate, Service No 79171 - DFC Killed.

Pilot 2: Sgt Walter Vincent Jaggs, Service No: 745515 Killed.

Observer: Sgt William Ernest Elliott, Service No: 755784 Killed.

Radio Op: Sgt Edward Fisher, Service No: 618704 Killed.

AG: Sgt Kenneth Raymond Draper, Service No: 751327 Killed.

REASON FOR LOSS:

Non operational transit flight to Malta. Crashed 01:00 hours. after flying into the London balloon barrage near Iver, Buckinghamshire.
Source: RAF Bomber Command Losses Vol.1 - W R. Chorley.
ORB. 30/10/1940. (NA).
1300. P/O. A. J. R. PATE, GD, killed on 30/10/40, as result of flying accident, ran into balloon cable at IVER, Nr. Bucks, and crashed, all crew were killed.

Images;

P/O A. J. R. PATE. (Croft).

Sgt William Ernest Elliott. (Croft).

Page from No. 115 Squadron ORB. (NA).

Burial Details:

Pilot Officer. Alexander John Roberts Pate. Birth 28 Jun 1918 Glasgow, Glasgow City, Scotland
Death 30 Oct 1940 (aged 22). Burial Wolvercote Cemetery Oxford, City of Oxford, Oxfordshire, England. Plot C1/213.(Find a Grave).

Pilot Officer (Pilot). Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. 115 Sqdn. Service No: 79171. Awards: D F C. Son of John Roberts Pate and Mary Henderson Pate.
Although born in Glasgow, the family seems to have settled in England, as Alexander attended The Dragon School in Oxford. He first attended their Junior School, before going on to the “Big School” in January 1927.
Alexander, together with his brother, left the school in March 1929, and both went on the King’s College on the Isle of Man. He then returned to Oxford in December 1932 to go to Magdalen College School.
After finishing his school he joined Lloyds Bank in 1936, working in Burford. He joined the RAF Volunteer Reserve in 1938.
Before the war he played Rugger for the Nomads, Hockey for Oxford County, and Cricket for Oxford C.C.
At the outbreak of war he was a Sergeant-Pilot, and he was commissioned as a Pilot Officer on the 31st May 1940.
Alexander flew with 115 Squadron, which was equipped with Vickers Wellington bombers.
After having flowing on several operations, on the night of the 29th October 1940, Alexander took off with his crew on a non-operational transit flight to Malta.
At about 1am their aircraft crashed after flying into the London balloon barrage near Iver, Buckinghamshire. All five crew-members were lost in the crash.
Alexander Pate was buried in the family plot in Wolvercote Cemetery. His Wing-Commander wrote of him:

“He was a splendid officer and a fine pilot, and in the Station Commander's and my own opinion probably the most promising junior officer in the Station. We had particularly noticed how, in the face of opposition and adverse conditions, he courageously and persistently carried on according to orders, when he would have been justified in turning back. His quiet and cheerful manner and charming personality had endeared him to all ranks. He leaves a gap in the Squadron and in the Station that cannot be filled.”
After his death, Alexander was posthumously awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for gallantry and devotion to duty in ex*****on of operations.

Sgt. Walter Vincent Jaggs. Birth Jan 1919 Service No: 745515 London Borough of Croydon, Greater London.
Death 30 Oct 1940 (aged 21) Iver, South Bucks District, Buckinghamshire, England.
Burial Brookwood Military Cemetery Brookwood, Woking Borough, Surrey, England. (Find a Grave). Plot 20. A. 7. - Sergeant - Pilot - Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. 115 Sqdn. (Find a Grave).
Son of Walter Frederick and Mabel Eileen Jaggs nee Vincent of Sutton, Surrey. Husband of Mabel Gladys Grace Jaggs nee Steel of 15, Bramley Road, Sutton, Surrey, England.

Sgt William Ernest Elliott. Birth 23 Oct 1919 Stafford, 755784.
Death 30 Oct 1940 (aged 21) Iver, South Bucks District, Buckinghamshire, England.
Burial Carisbrooke Cemetery Carisbrooke, Isle of Wight Unitary Authority, Isle of Wight, England
Plot F 15 (Family Headstone), sadly damaged. (Find a Grave).
Prior to the war, William Elliott worked for William H. Croucher, a grocer and baker in Newport, and was assistant scoutmaster for the Castlehold Boy Scout troop.

Sgt Edward Fisher. Birth unknown 618704 Wireless Operator/ Air Gunner Royal Air Force
Death 30 Oct 1940
Burial Hemsworth Cemetery Hemsworth, Metropolitan Borough of Wakefield, West Yorkshire, England. (Find a Grave).
Sgt Kenneth Raymond Draper Birth unknown Service No: 751327 Age: 21
Death 30 Oct 1940 Burial Hillingdon and Uxbridge Cemetery Hillingdon, London Borough of Hillingdon, Greater London, Plot Row N.D. Grave 23. (Find a Grave).
Son of Leonard and Ethel May Draper; nephew of Mr. F. C. Verity of Islington, London.

Researched by Mike Coft and compiled by Mike & Melvin Brownless with thanks to “Find a Grave” and the National Archive, Kew, London. (2026).

14/04/2026

Mission: Circus 193, France.

Date: 20 June 1942

Unit: No.118 Squadron R.A.F.

Type: Supermarine Spitfire Vb

Serial No. AR455

Coded: NK-K

Location: France. Exact location unknown?

Pilot: Adjutant. Robert-Noël Nioloux 30.297 - Captured.

Note: A print of his Spitfire AR455 serial NK – K ( From ECPAD) is published page 47 of “ Croix de Lorraine’ sur Dieppe by Yves Morieult, Aéro-Editions International, 2002 Robert-Noël Nioloux, 30.297, missing in action.

REASON FOR LOSS:

Presumed shot down by German fighter from JG 2 or JG 26.
Appears pilot made a forced landing?

Image;

Spitfire Vb AR455 lies in a French field (via ECPAD).

Researched and compiled by Melvin Brownless with thanks to ECPAD. Updated 2026.

14/04/2026

Mission: Nuremberg, Germany.

Date: 30/31st March 1944

Unit: No. 578 Squadron.

Type: Halifax III

Serial: LK797 (Excalibur)

Coded: LK-E

Location: Ryhope Village Colliery, Co. Durham

Pilot: F/O Cyril Joe Barton V.C. 168669 R.A.F.V.R. Age 22. Killed.

Fl/Eng: Sgt Maurice E. Trousdale D.F.M. - Injured.

Nav: Sgt Leonard Lambert - P.O.W No: 3459 Camps L6/357.

W/Op/Air/Gnr: P/O Jack Kay - P.O.W No: 4147 Camp L1.

Air/Bmr: F/O G. G. Grate - P.O.W. No: 4137 Camp L1.

Air/Gnr: Sgt H. C. H. D. Wood D.F.M. - Injured.

Air/Gnr: Sgt Fred Bryce D.F.M. - Injured.

REASON FOR LOSS:

Took off at 22:14 from RAF Burn, to attack the city of Nuremburg. Part of a massive force of 795 aircraft - 572 Lancaster's, 214 Halifax's and 9 Mosquitoes. The most disastrous night of the war for Bomber Command with the loss of 95 bombers. Halifax LK797 which the crew had named "Excalibur" was some 70 miles short of the target when attacked by a Junkers Ju 88. The first burst of fire from the enemy made the intercommunication system useless. One engine was damaged when a Messerschmitt Me 410 joined in the fight. The bomber’s machine guns were out of action and the gunners were unable to return the fire. The fighters continued to attack the aircraft as it approached the target area and, in the confusion caused by the failure of the communications system at the height of the battle, a signal was misinterpreted and the navigator, air bomber and wireless operator baled out of the aircraft.

F/O Barton faced a situation of dire peril. His aircraft was damaged, his navigational team had gone and he could not communicate with the remainder of the crew. If he continued his mission he would be at the mercy of hostile fighters when silhouetted against the fires in the target area and if he survived he would have to make a 4 1/2 hours journey home on three engines across heavily-defended territory. Determined to press home his attack at all costs, he flew on and, reaching the target, released the bombs himself. As F/O Barton turned for home the propeller of the damaged engine, which was vibrating badly, flew off. It was also discovered that two of the petrol tanks had suffered damage and were leaking. F/O Barton held to his course and, without navigational aids and in spite of strong head winds, successfully avoided the most dangerous defence areas on his route. Eventually he crossed the English coast only 90 miles north of his base. By this time the petrol supply was nearly exhausted. Before a suitable landing place could be found, the port engine stopped and the aircraft was now too low to be abandoned successfully. F/O Barton therefore ordered the three remaining members of his crew to take up their crash positions, behind the main spar. Then, with only one engine working, he made a gallant attempt to land clear of the houses over which he was flying. On the decent despite strenuous efforts F/O Barton was unable to avoid an end of a row of cottages, one was demolished and the other slightly damaged. The Halifax crashed into the yard of Ryhope Colliery, on impact the rear fuselage broke off and landed in a deep railway cutting with the three crewmen inside. F/O Barton died of his injuries, but as a result of his selfless actions, the three crewmen survived. Tragically a local minor, George Dodds Heads aged 58 was killed on his way to work hit by flying debris. In gallantly completing his last mission in the face of almost impossible odds, F/O Cyril Joe Barton displayed unsurpassed courage and devotion to duty. On 27th June 1944 he was posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross. He was the only Halifax pilot so honoured.

Images;

F/O Cyril Joe Barton VC. (Harrison/MRB Archive).

F/O Barton’s crew: left standing, Sgt. Kay, wireless operator; F/O Crate, bomb aimer; F/O Barton, pilot, Sgt. Lambert, navigator; and Sgt. Trousdale, flight engineer. At the front are Sgt. Bryce, rear gunner, and Sgt. Wood, mid-upper gunner. (Harrison/MRB Archive).

The wreckage of LK797 "Excalibur" in the yard of Ryhope Colliery. (Harrison/MRB Archive).

Burial Details:

F/O Cyril Joe Barton VC. Kingston-Upon-Thames Cemetery. Class C. (Cons,) Grave 6700. (Harrison/MRB Archive).

Son of Frederick J. Barton and Ethel Barton, of New Malden.

Researched by Mike Harrison and compiled by Melvin Brownless, updated 2026.

28/03/2026

Mission: Night Flying Exercise.

Date: 27th April 1944

Time: 04.30 hours.

Unit: No. 18 (Pilots) Advanced Flying Unit.

Type: Airspeed Oxford I

Serial: LX196

Coded: ?

Base: Church Lawford.

Location: Frankton, near Rugby, England.

Pilot: F/O Gregor Stephen Moore J/36980 R.C.A.F Age 21 - Killed.

REASON FOR LOSS:

In the early hours of the morning of 27th April 1944 Flying Officer Moore was carrying out a night flying detail from Church Lawford airfield. He was on the downwards leg in Oxford LX196 and had just selected undercarriage down when attacked by a Me 410 piloted by Leutnant. Wolfgang Wenning of II./KG51. The intruder had joined the Church Lawford circuit with the object of shooting down the four Oxfords in it at that time. The cannon and machine gun fire ripped through the wooden aircraft which broke up in mid air. The Me 410 collided with the wreckage of the Oxford and both aircraft crashed to the ground close to the village of Frankton. All occupants onboard were killed. It is believed locally that F/O Moore’s last action was to deliberately ram the Me 410 but the truth will never be known. The starboard engine of the Oxford was said to have fallen through the roof of a barn and various other pieces fell in adjoining gardens and fields. The Me 410 was said to have crashed in an open field approximately 400 yards away from the main wreckage (see map below in images).

The Dartford (East Hill) Cemetery records say that Gregor Moore of 67 Spring Vale, Dartford, was buried on 4th May 1944. The grave has a stone flower holder with a tribute to the courage of F/O Moore from the villagers of Frankton. The service was conducted by Rev A. J. D. Llewellyn, Methodist Minister, Dartford. The German pilot, Lt. Wenning and Fw. Gustav Delp (air gunner) are buried at the Deutsche Soldatenfriedhof, Cannock Chase, Staffordshire, England.

Images;

The impact point of the Me 410 is shown to the south of Frankton, while to the north the Oxford disintegrated over a field (Courtesy of Mark Evans, Midland Aircraft Recovery Group).

F/O Gregor Stephen Moore. (Courtesy Jeanne Boyle).

Burials;

F/O Gregor Stephen Moore J/36980 RCAF Dartford (East Hill) Cemetery Sec. A. Grave 1766 Son of Albert E. Moore and Flora Moore, of Penticton, British Columbia, Canada. (Courtesy of Philip Taylor).

Researched and compiled by Melvin Brownless with thanks to Mike Harrison, Jeanne Boyle and Philip Taylor. (Updated 2026).

25/03/2026

Mission: Night Training.

Date: 20th March 1942

Time: 02.45 hours.

Unit: No. 19 OTU (Operational Training Unit).

Type: Whitworth Whitley V

Serial: P4998

Location: Near Elgin aerodrome, Scotland.

Crew:

Sergeant. William (Billy) Wilson 526503. Age 25 - Killed.
Son of James Bartlett Wilson and Bessie Wilson, of Whitchurch, Shropshire.
Buried at LANARK CEMETERY St. Catherine's Sec. A. Grave 628.

Sergeant. Robert James Scarff 656067. Age 22 - Killed.
Buried SAWBRIDGEWORTH (GREAT ST. MARY) CHURCHYARD.

Sergeant. Eric William Jordan 931605. Age 19 - Killed.
Son of William and Maud Selina Jordan, of Barking.
Buried at BARKING (RIPPLESIDE) CEMETERY. Sec. E. Grave 554.

Sergeant. Victor Baxter 1375526. Age 32 - Killed.
Son of Albert Frederick Horace and Maria Louise Baxter, of Plaistow. A.M.I. Struct. E., Chartered Structural Engineer.
Commemorated at CITY OF LONDON CEMETERY AND CREMATORIUM, MANOR PARK Cremation, Panel 2.

Sergeant. Robert Leyland 1061093. Age 20 - Killed.
Son of Herbert and Ethel Leyland, of Sheffield.
Buried at SHEFFIELD (INTAKE VILLAGE) CEMETERY. Sec. V. Grave 728.

Sergeant. Ronald Herbert Marsh 1129033. Age 21 - Killed.
Son of Herbert James Marsh and Elizabeth Sarah Marsh, of Clifton, Bristol.
Buried at BRISTOL (ARNOS VALE) CEMETERY Plot SSS. Grave 787.

REASON FOR LOSS:

Took-off from Forres aerodrome for a night training flight. At around 02.45 the Whitley was seen approaching Elgin airfield but it is assumed that the crew
realized their mistake as the engine note suddenly increased as the bomber commenced overshooting the runway. However, after climbed 180 feet, the bomber
banked steeply, stalled and dived into the ground, bursting into flames on impact. All the crew were buried at various cemeteries across the United Kingdom.

Images;

A Whitworth Whitley Mk.V (World War Photos).

Sgt. Robert Leyland pictured at No. 19 OTU during his training January 1942. (NA).

Robert Leyland's last resting place in Sheffield, England. (CWGC).

The medal sent to Robert's father after his death. (MRB Archive).

Robert's last resting place at Sheffield Cemetery. (CWGC).

Sgt. Ronald Marsh from Bristol, England. (NA).

Ronald's last resting place, Bristol, England. ("Find a Grave").

Researched and compiled by Melvin Brownless with thanks to the National Archive, Kew, London, CWGC, "Find a Grave" and World War Photos. 2026.

11/03/2026

Mission: Op-Koln, Germany.

Date: 11th December 1940

Unit: No. 107 Squadron.

Type: Blenheim IV

Serial No.Z5794

Coded: OM -

Pilot: Pilot Officer W H Culling RAFVR- Captured pow number 104.Camps #/L3.

Observer: Warrant Officer Arnold Brown 746717 RAFVR - Captured pow number 422 Camps L1, L6, 357.aged 34.

Son of Cyril and Edith Brown and brother of Jack, Dennis, and Eric and husband of Miriam Doris Brown of Northampton. Arnold owned a wireless shop in Marefair, Northampton before the war. He enlisted in March 1939. Grave 11.N.8.Berlin 19139-1945 War Cemetery.

W/Op/A/G: Sergeant E T Perry RAFVR- Captured p.o.w number 445.Camps L1, L6, 357.

REASON FOR LOSS:

On 11th December 1940, Blenheim IV Z5794 OM- of 107 Squadron left Wattisham on an op to Koln. Approching the target area, the pilot was forced to make an emergency landing. All three crew were to become prisoners of war.
After liberation, Arnold and his fellow p.o.w’s were moved from the camp during the coldest winter months of the twentieth century with blizzards and sub-zero temperatures and force-marched. Already weak from the years in the camp on meagre prison rations and suffering from frostbite and hunger, many succumbed to disease and starvation along the route. On reaching the village of Gresse, 15 kilometres north-east of Lauenburg, on the 19th April 1945,six Royal Air Force Typhoons opened fire with rockets and bombs on the p.o.w column as they walked along a narrow country road amidst open fields, accidentally mistaking them for retreating columns of German troops. Sixty allied pow’s were killed and many including Arnold were wounded. Arnold died of his injuries on 20th April 1945 in Boisenburg Krankenhaus Hospital.

Image;

Warrant Officer Arnold Brown. (Brown).

Photo credit and information on Warrant Officer Brown to Eric and Kathleen Brown and Jenny Maguire.

Researched and compiled by Melvin Brownless with special thanks to Eric and Kathleen Brown. 2026.

11/11/2025

in memory of "Sparky".

Mission: Bremen, Germany.

Date: 13th November 1943

Unit: 306th Bomb Group 367th Bomb Squadron

Type: B-17G Flying Fortress

Serial: 42-31038

Code: GY-N (Group tail letter Triangle H)

Base: Thurleigh, Bedfordshire.

Location: Longwick, Near Princes Risborough, Buckinghamshire, England.

Pilot: 2nd Lt. Clyde W. Cosper, (Sparky) Age 21. (Killed).

Co Pilot: 2nd Lt. Wesley B. Brinkley. (Baled out safe).

Navigator: 2nd Lt. Allen T. Ballard. (Baled out safe).

Bombardier: 2nd Lt. Donald F. Dickson. (Baled out safe).

Radio/Op: Sgt. Kenneth C. Iviemy. (Baled out safe).

Engineer/Top Turret Gunner: T/Sgt. Charles E. Vondrachek. (Baled out safe).

Gunner/Ball Turret: S/Sgt. Stanley G. Downs. (Baled out safe).

Gunner/Right Waist: S/Sgt. Lloyd L. Meyer. (Baled out safe).

Gunner/Left Waist: S/Sgt. Harold K. Twing. (Baled out safe).

Gunner/Tail Turret: S/Sgt. Denver A. McGinnis. (Baled out safe).

REASON FOR LOSS

“THUNDERHEAD”

On the morning of November 13th 1943 a mission to Bremen was attempted by the first Bombardment Group which ended in disaster. During assembly heavy turbulence and icing was encountered. As a result four aircraft were lost and thirty crew members lost their lives this day, the mission was abandoned and aircraft recalled before assembly was completed. B-17 42-31038, from the 306th Bomb Group, 367th Bomb Squadron, piloted by 2nd Lt. Clyde Cosper, flew through a thunderhead, then went into a spin and lost several thousand feet of altitude in a few seconds. Lt. Cosper recovered from the spin and was able to level the plane long enough to flick on his intercom switch and order his crew to bale out, which they all did safely.

The following reads from the 367th Squadron war diary, authored by Lt. Edward T Murtha:

“In a heroic effort to keep the plane, (which was still carrying a full bomb load) from crashing in an English village, Cosper chose a clearing near the town on Princes Risborough and crash landed his almost uncontrollable plane in an open field. The aircraft immediately caught fire and exploded within a few seconds, instantly killing Lt. Cosper. Through his valiant efforts he saved the lives of his crew and without doubt the lives and property of many British civilians” Lt. Clyde W. Cosper was posthumously awarded the Silver Star for his Heroism.

For this mission the 306th Bomb Group had put up twenty one aircraft plus two spares, due to the bad weather the 306th was recalled. Seventeen of the units assigned aircraft along with the two spares returned safely. Along with 2nd Lt Cosper’s aircraft the unit lost a second B-17 42-3142, flown by Lt. Scudder, the aircraft crashed at Great Hazeley with the loss of all ten crew on board. Two other B-17’s of the 306th, did not hear the recall in time and both were advised to join up with other groups. B-17 42-30939 tagged on with the 95th Bomb Group, and 42-31065 with the 388th Bomb Group.

Burial Details:

Cambridge American Cemetery, photo taken in 1946.

2nd Lt. Cosper was first buried at the Cambridge American Cemetery in 1943. Following the end of World War II, approximately 56% of families in the U.S.A. requested the remains of their loved ones to be returned to the United States for reburial in either a National Cemetery or a private cemetery. In 1946, Congress passed legislation authorizing the disinterment of and the shipment of those servicemen's remains back to the United States. The task was assigned to the United States Army Quartermaster General and the staff of the Graves Registration Units did a remarkable job.

United States Army Transportation Corps Mortuary Cars. A large number of these "Mortuary Cars" are believed to have been converted from six axle "heavy weight" Pullman passenger cars, refurbished with the windows covered for dignity, respect & privacy. These were required to transport the many thousands of servicemen brought back to be laid to rest at home.

On the 25th June 1948 Clyde’s mother was informed by telegram that his remains were on route to the United States.

On the 13th July a further telegram was received informing her that the remains of the late 2nd Lt. Cosper was being shipped to her, accompanied by military es**rt on train number thirty two, Texas and Pacific Railroad, due to arrive at Bonham Texas Station four ten p.m. railroad time, on the 16th July 1948.

IMAGES:

A Boeing B17 of the 306th Bomb Group in flight. (Richards).

Portrait photo of 2nd Lt. Clyde W “Sparky” Cosper.

Clyde during training in the U.S.A. (Cosper family).

1989/1990 Crash site visit. (Brownless).

Melvin Brownless, Neal Lumley and Lucy Trackman visit the crash site to meet a local eye witness to the tragic event. Neal found the pilots dog tag on the Saturday, and his cap badge the next day!

Clyde W Cosper was finally laid to rest in July 1948, in Dodd City Cemetery, Fannin County, Texas, USA.

Clyde’s brother, Thomas Moss Cosper with his wife Jimmie at Clyde’s grave in Texas.

Page researched and compiled by Melvin R Brownless & David King and the Clyde Cosper family, The Bucks Herald, Life Magazine, 306th Bomb Group Association, Gordon and Connie Richards, Roger Freeman, Neal Lumley, Lucy Trackman. 1989-1990.

31/10/2025

This is wonderful news!

WW2 Aircrew Remembrance

01/05/2026

01/05/2026

23/04/2026

14/04/2026

14/04/2026

28/03/2026

25/03/2026

11/03/2026

11/11/2025

31/10/2025

Address

Website

Alerts

Shortcuts

Share