Author Topic: What happened to flight ED522??  (Read 6914 times)

Offline adicol

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What happened to flight ED522??
« on: Saturday 16 May 09 10:25 BST (UK) »
Hi All,

I am trying to glean some more info on fligth ED522 PH-U 12 Squadron.
My husbands uncle was aboard this flight which came down on the 12th June 1943 above Dusseldorf.
On board were:
Sgt John Edgar Constable Flt Lt (my husbands uncle)
Sgt Leslie Robert Evans Mid Upper Gunner
Sgt Sidney Lazarus Ford W/Op
Sgt William Andrew Gillanders Nav.
Sgt Robert Highet Pilot
Sgt Alan William Lee Rear Gunner
Sgt Kenneth John Tagg Bomb Aimer

This was there first flight out  from RAF Wickenby after arriving a week earlier from 1656 Conversion Unit.
They had been planned to fly earlier in the week according to Bomber Command diaries but had to postpone due to bad weather.
The plane was a Lancaster and it was its 28th flight.
It came down over Lausward District, Dusseldorf.
The crew members were buried at Nordfriedhof Cemetery and then were reinterred (sp) in Reichswald Forest Cemetery after the war.

The only info I have found that gives a reason for the flight coming down states it's classification as FTR.
I have no idea what this means.
Can anyone give me any more info on flight ED522 or its crew members or no where to get this info??

Kindest Thanks

Colleen
DUR; Stephenson, Wray, Collier, Lowther,Rothery
GLA; Jones, Allen, Holland, Nicholas,George,Lewis
ESS; Davey
W.Yorks; Martin, Hodgson, Tyler,Harrold
LAN; Dodd, Constable, Brinkley
Guernsey; Le Riche

Offline Michael J

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Re: What happened to flight ED522??
« Reply #1 on: Saturday 16 May 09 10:53 BST (UK) »
Hi Colleen,

I think FTR means Failed to Return,

Michael.

Offline adicol

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Re: What happened to flight ED522??
« Reply #2 on: Saturday 16 May 09 10:56 BST (UK) »
Thanks Michael.
How specific they were!

DUR; Stephenson, Wray, Collier, Lowther,Rothery
GLA; Jones, Allen, Holland, Nicholas,George,Lewis
ESS; Davey
W.Yorks; Martin, Hodgson, Tyler,Harrold
LAN; Dodd, Constable, Brinkley
Guernsey; Le Riche

Offline Flakdodger

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Re: What happened to flight ED522??
« Reply #3 on: Saturday 16 May 09 20:11 BST (UK) »
Hello Colleen,
Failed To Return was the standard notation for a missing aircraft on operations.
It might be presumed that ED522 was hit by flak, or was shot down by a nightfighter.
If the aeroplane came down in the Dusseldorf area, then flak is more likely.
Dave
The only free cheese is in a mousetrap


Offline adicol

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Re: What happened to flight ED522??
« Reply #4 on: Sunday 17 May 09 09:46 BST (UK) »
Thanks Dave.

What also is puzzling me is who would have been the one to remove the bodies from the scene and bury them??
DUR; Stephenson, Wray, Collier, Lowther,Rothery
GLA; Jones, Allen, Holland, Nicholas,George,Lewis
ESS; Davey
W.Yorks; Martin, Hodgson, Tyler,Harrold
LAN; Dodd, Constable, Brinkley
Guernsey; Le Riche

Offline Flakdodger

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Re: What happened to flight ED522??
« Reply #5 on: Sunday 17 May 09 11:08 BST (UK) »
Colleen,
the crash scene would have been attended by a combination of civilian emergency services and the military (there would have been Luftwaffe involvement pretty quickly, if for nothing else - intelligence gathering).
As for interment, I had better not guess. I am more familiar with occupied countries, where the occupying power took matters in hand.
Cheers
Dave
The only free cheese is in a mousetrap

Offline phil Johnson

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Re: What happened to flight ED522??
« Reply #6 on: Monday 13 March 17 22:18 GMT (UK) »
Hi Colleen, John Edgar constable was my uncle Tony's cousin (my mums brother). John edgar constable also had another cousin who was an air gunner in the RAF in 1940. Ive been trying to find out more about him too. I do have a family tree that goes back to 1605 of our branch of the Constable family so it looks like we are related .John Edgar's parents were Thomas Clifford Constable born 8th July 1886 and Louise Rickard-Brook. I have a photo of the 3 of the cousins.

Offline adicol

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Re: What happened to flight ED522??
« Reply #7 on: Tuesday 09 May 17 11:16 BST (UK) »
Hi Colleen, John Edgar constable was my uncle Tony's cousin (my mums brother). John edgar constable also had another cousin who was an air gunner in the RAF in 1940. Ive been trying to find out more about him too. I do have a family tree that goes back to 1605 of our branch of the Constable family so it looks like we are related .John Edgar's parents were Thomas Clifford Constable born 8th July 1886 and Louise Rickard-Brook. I have a photo of the 3 of the cousins.

Hi Phil

My father in law is called Tony - his mum was John's sister, Muriel Edna. I have the fmaily tree back to around then, so we have both done well.

We have some photos of the cemetery where John is interred at Reichswald from our visit, and a photo of John too. We know he had a brother called Bill who was in the forces but we believed he was in the Army.

I will PM you my email address so we can swap info!

Sorry for the late reply too - I wasn't notified I had an update!

Thanks

Colleen
DUR; Stephenson, Wray, Collier, Lowther,Rothery
GLA; Jones, Allen, Holland, Nicholas,George,Lewis
ESS; Davey
W.Yorks; Martin, Hodgson, Tyler,Harrold
LAN; Dodd, Constable, Brinkley
Guernsey; Le Riche

Offline alpinecottage

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Re: What happened to flight ED522??
« Reply #8 on: Tuesday 09 May 17 13:24 BST (UK) »
Adicol, you won't be able to PM Phil yet, as he has only made one post and he needs two or three to use the PM system.

If you acknowledge this message and Adicol's, Phil, you'll then have 3 posts and you'll be able to communicate by PM.
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