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General => Armed Forces => World War Two => Topic started by: Nimrod58 on Tuesday 03 July 12 23:16 BST (UK)

Title: Tracing John Collins Lancaster gunner
Post by: Nimrod58 on Tuesday 03 July 12 23:16 BST (UK)

Hi

Ok, the family tale goes that John Collins, born in Exeter in 1917 (to John Collins and Ada (Gove)) was a gunner in a Lancaster bomber who was killed over Germany and buried there in or around 1942.

The trouble is that I can find no record of anything on the CWGC site or anywhere else and would really appreciate some help finding him.

Thanks all

Title: Re: Tracing John Collins Lancaster gunner
Post by: nanny jan on Tuesday 03 July 12 23:21 BST (UK)

Hi,

Is this him?


http://www.cwgc.org/search-for-war-dead/casualty/2199943/COLLINS,%20JOHN



Nanny Jan

Title: Re: Tracing John Collins Lancaster gunner
Post by: Nimrod58 on Tuesday 03 July 12 23:24 BST (UK)

You are a genius!

Thank you so much

Title: Re: Tracing John Collins Lancaster gunner
Post by: nanny jan on Tuesday 03 July 12 23:25 BST (UK)

Hi,

The site seems to give better results if just an initial is used and not a name.   :-\


Nanny Jan

Title: Re: Tracing John Collins Lancaster gunner
Post by: philipsearching on Tuesday 03 July 12 23:51 BST (UK)

The service number should enable you to find out more about John Collins' wartime service.

In the meantime, here is a link to information on his squadron:

http://www.raf.mod.uk/bombercommand/h35.html

The Lancaster story is probably incorrect as 35 squadron flew Halifax bombers in 1941.  Interestingly, John Collins would have served with, and possibly even flew with, the legendary Leonard Cheshire VC.

I am delighted that Nanny Jan found him - I was trying another method and had found over 30 John Collins in the RAF to search through - so a big thanks from me to Nanny Jan!

All the best
Philip

Title: Re: Tracing John Collins Lancaster gunner
Post by: John915 on Wednesday 04 July 12 00:05 BST (UK)

Good evening,

As an ex cavalry man I was interested to read that an RFC squadron was formed to work with the cavalry.
I always thought only the para's had a flying horse!!!

John915

Title: Re: Tracing John Collins Lancaster gunner
Post by: philipsearching on Wednesday 04 July 12 00:10 BST (UK)

Quote from: John915 on Wednesday 04 July 12 00:05 BST (UK)

I always thought only the para's had a flying horse!!!

To misquote the late Frankie Howerd: "Neigh, neigh and thrice neigh!"
(sorry! - I'll shut up now)

Title: Re: Tracing John Collins Lancaster gunner
Post by: sheldonesque on Wednesday 04 July 12 03:53 BST (UK)

Collins was the only casualty of Halifax L9582 that was shot down on a raid to Hamburg. There is an interesting entry on the site dediccated to the town of Lentfoehrden:

http://www.gemeinde-lentfoehrden.de/Verzeichnis/Bilder_alt/Krieg.htm

Google translated it as:

On Sunday, had to 30/11/41, Mayor Böge report a plane crash, probably by flak, to the district administrator in Bad Segeberg. Here crashed about 23:00 a British Halifax of No. L9582. 35 Squadon RAF, coming from the south, about 400 meters east of the station from Lentföhrdener and burned. The crew managed to escape by parachute and was soon taken out (* Hamilton, Lythgoe, * Stapleford *, Connor *, * Henderson). There was only the tail gunner F / C Collins, who was discovered dead the next morning in the machine.

Erna Zukowski, daughter of the mayor Böge reporting that the crashes between 00.00 und 01.00 Clock Clock occurred and the aircraft fell to the ground burning. The closure took soldiers of the 1st Navy - driver - education - department. (bold mine)

Title: Re: Tracing John Collins Lancaster gunner
Post by: Nimrod58 on Thursday 05 July 12 09:28 BST (UK)

Thanks all.

I am amazed at the detailed information.

H