Author Topic: Mystery picture found near site of Canadian plane crash in Wales...who is he?  (Read 139473 times)

Offline Caroline_d

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Hello


I've attached a picture which was found near the wreckage of a Canadian WW2 Wellington plane which crashed in Wales 20/11/1944.  The crew were from the Canadian Air Force and none of the crew survived, their names are:

PILOT Sgt CHARLES HAMEL
NAVIGATOR Sgt JULES ROBERT RENE VILLENEUVE
BOMB AIMER F/Off WILLIAM JOSEPH ALLISON
W/Op/AIR GUNNER Sgt JOSEPH PAUL ERNEST BURKE
AIR GUNNER Sgt ARTHUR GROUIX
AIR GUNNER Sgt GERARD DUSABLON


There are some details on the following local web site but I'm not sure of the copywright laws so I've not posted the pictures from it.  One shows a memorial which was built by the locals with the names of the crew.

http://www.clwb-cerdded-ystalyfera.i12.com/pages/mf509.htm
http://web.archive.org/web/20060624105454/http://clwb-cerdded-ystalyfera.i12.com/pages/mf509.htm

My grandfather was in his early 20's when the crash happened and lived a village called Ynyswen, near Abercrave,  which is near the site of the crash.  A few days after the crash he hiked up the mountains to take a look and  he found a picture near the wreckage of a young man. 

At the time he didn't know who it belonged to or even how to find out.  He thought it might have been a picture of one of the crew members or another family member of one of the crew.

The picture shows the young man in uniform but I have no idea what regiment etc he is from.  I was hoping that someone here could identify the man or the uniform.

I have tried to find information on the crew members but the only one which has a familiar name is Jules Villeneuve.  There is a large site showing all family members and details of his line and stating that he died in a plane crash in Wales so I know that I've found the right Villeneuve, but I've had no luck on the others.  I was hoping if someone in the Villeneuve family could confirm if it was a relative or not then I could eliminate one name.  I've  emailed the site to see if they have any connections or have any further details but haven't received replies.

If anyone can identify the uniform and the young man in the picture, I would be grateful if you could let me know.  My grandfather has heard of the internet and wondered if it was now time to find anyone out there with any information! 

If there are any family members out there who would like the picture returned I will be more than happy to do so and end a 60 year old mystery to find the identity of the man in the picture.

Sorry this is so long, I just didn't want to miss anything out.

Kind regards
Caroline


WHEN I ORIGINALLY POSTED THIS, I HAD NO IDEA ABOUT THE AMAZING RESPONSE I HAVE HAD FROM ALL IN ROOTSCHAT AND BEYOND.  THE CREW HAVE NOW BEEN IDENTIFIED...IF YOU DON'T HAVE TIME TO READ EVERYTHING..JUST SKIP TO POSTING 206, THEY HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED. BUT WE ARE STILL HOPING FOR FURTHER INFORMATION ON THE MAN IN THE PHOTOGRAPH
Anges Weild - Annan - married William Blenkinsop - Annan
Jane Scott, Roxborough who married William Hope (children, Wilhelmina Amelia, Horatio Nelson Trafalga Hope!) 
James Blenkinsop (born Dumfries)
James Blenkinsop (born Lancashire)
Wilhelmina Blenkisop (born Surrey) married Arthur Price (Wales)
Henry Reginald Price (Brecon, South Wales)
Evans (Coelbren, Wales)

Offline PrueM

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Re: Mystery picture found near site of Canadian plane crash in Wales...who is he
« Reply #1 on: Saturday 29 October 05 22:44 BST (UK) »
Hi Caroline,
I'm afraid I can't help with the young man's identity, but I just wanted to say it's a wonderful, thoughtful thing you and your grandfather are doing, trying to find out who this fellow is.  I hope you find out who he belongs to, and that they get some pleasure from knowing that his picture has been kept safe all these years, and that someone cared enough to try to discover who he was.
Makes me all teary, that does  :'(  ;D

Good luck!  I am going to watch this thread and see what happens  :)

Prue

Offline Caroline_d

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Re: Mystery picture found near site of Canadian plane crash in Wales...who is he?
« Reply #2 on: Saturday 29 October 05 22:46 BST (UK) »
Thanks Pru for the rapid reply!  I'd do hope someone can help and maybe point me in the right direction to find out.

Regards
Caroline
Anges Weild - Annan - married William Blenkinsop - Annan
Jane Scott, Roxborough who married William Hope (children, Wilhelmina Amelia, Horatio Nelson Trafalga Hope!) 
James Blenkinsop (born Dumfries)
James Blenkinsop (born Lancashire)
Wilhelmina Blenkisop (born Surrey) married Arthur Price (Wales)
Henry Reginald Price (Brecon, South Wales)
Evans (Coelbren, Wales)

Offline old rowley

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Re: Mystery picture found near site of Canadian plane crash in Wales...who is he?
« Reply #3 on: Saturday 29 October 05 23:00 BST (UK) »
Hi Caroline,

Cannot help with the i.d. of the airman in the photograph but can only say that he is dressed in the regular RAF uniform of the time. The shoulder flash that one can just make out sometimes denotes if he was a wireless operator etc. Other than that he was a member of the Royal Canadian Air Force rather than the RAF I am sorry that I can not offer more.

Like Pru I wish you luck on this one and will pop back to see how far you get.
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Offline Caroline_d

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Re: Mystery picture found near site of Canadian plane crash in Wales...who is he?
« Reply #4 on: Saturday 29 October 05 23:02 BST (UK) »
I forgot to add the following which was found on a web site by GPS Walker

DATE OF CRASH 20th NOVEMBER 1944 PARENT UNIT 22 OTU WELLESBOURNE MOUNTFORD THE AIRCRAFT WAS ON A NIGHT TRAINING EXERCISE WHEN THE STARBOARD ENGINE DEVELOPED PROBLEMS THE PLANE STARTED TO LOSE HEIGHT OWING TO ICING AND STRUCK CAREG GOCH IN THE BLACK MOUNTAIN GR SN 817168 THERE IS A MEMORIAL AT THE CRASH SITE FOR THE SIX AIRMEN THAT DIED

Maybe someone will know if the regiment.

Thanks again
Caroline
Anges Weild - Annan - married William Blenkinsop - Annan
Jane Scott, Roxborough who married William Hope (children, Wilhelmina Amelia, Horatio Nelson Trafalga Hope!) 
James Blenkinsop (born Dumfries)
James Blenkinsop (born Lancashire)
Wilhelmina Blenkisop (born Surrey) married Arthur Price (Wales)
Henry Reginald Price (Brecon, South Wales)
Evans (Coelbren, Wales)

Offline liverpool annie

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Re: Mystery picture found near site of Canadian plane crash in Wales...who is he?
« Reply #5 on: Saturday 29 October 05 23:07 BST (UK) »


Prue !

Any chance you can do something with the photo? that would be nice - for Caroline to pass on both!

Annie  :)
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Offline Caroline_d

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Re: Mystery picture found near site of Canadian plane crash in Wales...who is he?
« Reply #6 on: Saturday 29 October 05 23:08 BST (UK) »
Thanks old rowley

At least I now know that I need to concentrate in the Canadian Air Force direction.

Appreciate your input
.
Caroline


Anges Weild - Annan - married William Blenkinsop - Annan
Jane Scott, Roxborough who married William Hope (children, Wilhelmina Amelia, Horatio Nelson Trafalga Hope!) 
James Blenkinsop (born Dumfries)
James Blenkinsop (born Lancashire)
Wilhelmina Blenkisop (born Surrey) married Arthur Price (Wales)
Henry Reginald Price (Brecon, South Wales)
Evans (Coelbren, Wales)

Offline casalguidi

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Re: Mystery picture found near site of Canadian plane crash in Wales...who is he?
« Reply #7 on: Saturday 29 October 05 23:29 BST (UK) »
Hi Caroline

Have you tried the Canadian War Memorial site .................. might give a bit more info on the men ???

http://www.vac-acc.gc.ca/remembers/sub.cfm?source=collections/virtualmem

Casalguidi
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Offline old rowley

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Re: Mystery picture found near site of Canadian plane crash in Wales...who is he?
« Reply #8 on: Sunday 30 October 05 00:09 BST (UK) »
Hi Caroline,

Have now found out that all the crew on board Wellington MF509 at the time of the crash were Canadian's. Have also found out that there is a full photograph of the crew standing next to the aircraft still inexistance which may help to identify your airman. I will try to find out more over this weekend for you.
Claxton- East London & Essex<br />Cuthbert- Mile End East London <br />Edwards - East London & Essex<br />Goll- Norfolk<br />Harris-Mile End East London<br />Hurr - Suffolk<br />Law- Bethnal Green East London<br />Moll- East London<br />Robinson- Bethnal Green East London<br />Tait- Argyll & Glasgow<br />Thompson Shoreditch East london<br />Watson- Glasgow<br />Wood- Bethnal Green East London<br /><br />Local history interest; Noak Hill & Harold Hill Essex<br /><br />census information crown cop