Air Force Lookups - if you need help

[dragonq]

Thanks for the tip, Annie : I do know the Lost Bombers website and have found it very useful.

I really wish I had found this thread yesterday, before I posted off the request for my uncle's service record. I've just read kyt's advice to ask for a photocopy, which of course, never occurred to me. I just assumed that was what I would get. I suppose I am now going to get a piece of paper with next to nothing typed on it, which is infuriating, considering with the bank draft it cost me A$85. I suppose it is totally pointless to write again after the fact, as they must get many dozens of applications every day.

If I may make a suggestion to anyone else who is researching RAF planes lost in Brittany, the people at the specialist French internet site, ABSA, have been absolutely fabulous to deal with. They have given me so much help, we now know more about the loss of my uncle's plane than anyone in the family for sixty-four years. They've even set up a special page for my uncle's plane, the address of which I quoted in my previous post. The site address for their forum is http://absa39-45.forumpro.fr/forum.htm and I heartily recommend it. It probably helps if you can read and post in French, but I do note that some people write in other languages.

I do hope some of you can help me with my uncle's elusive crew. By the way, here is a picture, which may help. My uncle is the very tall fellow on the far left. I don't know the names of the other men in the photo but suspect they may be some of the other crew members of the lost plane. Sorry for the poor quality of the snap.

[Colin Cruddace]

Hi,

I am hoping that someone might be able to help with finding the circumstances of the death of a young Australian pilot.
Flying Officer William Gordon Craig (surname originally Crapp)
431 squadron, Royal Canadian Air Force, based at Croft, North Riding of Yorks.
Awarded DFC, (LG 13th Oct 1944)
Married on 10th Aug 1944 to Olive Mary Swainston (my Mother's cousin)
Death certificate details-
Died 8th April 1945, age 23, at 16 Acre Plantation, Wroot Road, Blaxton, Don Valley, West Riding of Yorks.
Notification was by Certificate received from R H Young, G/Capt., Officer Commanding, which gave occupation as - Flying Officer DFC, No. Aus 416549, Pilot, 20 Operational Training Unit, Royal Air Force.
Cause of death - Due to War Operations.

His funeral and burial took place in Darlington on 10th April 1945.

431 was a bomber squadron, flying Halifax and then Lancaster bombers. I have found another source which says his death was accidental and he was with Unit 3 Flying Instructors School RAF, so it's possible that he was not flying a mission at the time.

I was originally contacted by a relative of the Craig/Crapp family, and I understand that she has applied for the service records, but other posts seem to suggest that they might be of no help, so any pointers would be very much appreciated.

Regards,
Colin

[kyt]

Hi Colin

Craig was killed whilst with the Bomber Command Instructors' School, based at RAF Finningley  - a unit set up to train experienced aircrew as Instructors for Operational Training Units etc.

Wellington LN585

F/L G A Clark (killed)
F/O W G Craig DFC RAAF (killed)
F/O G Lofthouse DFC (injured)
F/Sgt B F Griggs (killed)

Took off from Finningley to practice overshooting on one engine and while doing so (with the starboard motor feathered) crashed off a slow turn to the right and burst into flames, the time of the tragedy being reported as 1600. F/L Clark was cremated in Sheffield, Craig, who had married Olive Mary Craig of Darlington, was buried in the West Cemetery.  Lofthouse was treated at Doncaster Royal Infirmary. He received his DFC with 626 Squadron in 1945, whilst Craig had received his with 431 Squadron

details from Bomber Command Losses Volume 8 by Chorley

HTH
K

[ike]

hi there, i dont know if you can help me. im look for archibald edward goodall, i think an air marshaller and was thought to have been killed in egypt during the second world war
thanks for you time

[liverpool annie]

I can't answer your question but it looks like somebody else is looking for your Archibald also Ike !

http://www.forcesreunited.org.uk/forum/displaytopic.asp?T=16099&P=1

Annie 

[Colin Cruddace]

Hi K,

Thanks very much for those details, and the fast reply. It has answered the question as to how he died, but makes it even more tragic to find that he died on a practice run. It just goes to show what dangers these brave young men must have faced, over and above enemy actions.

Would you happen to know if all the crew were being trained, or would F/L Clark be an Instructor?

Regards,
Colin

Craig was killed whilst with the Bomber Command Instructors' School, based at RAF Finningley  - a unit set up to train experienced aircrew as Instructors for Operational Training Units etc.

[kyt]

I'm afraid my source doesn't say, except that Clark was the pilot.

Unfortunately Craig's files have not been digitised on the NAA but you could ask for copies:

http://naa12.naa.gov.au/Login.htm

Click on "Guest"

Search for "416549" - his service number. Don't bother with the first file as that refers to another operational loss in which he was involved.

Surprisingly there appears to be no Casualty Repatriation file for his final crash, but one of the other two may give indications to when he was transferred to the BCIS - this would then indicate whether he was being trained, or had been there long enough to have indertaken the course itself and become a master Instructor

K

[Colin Cruddace]

I'm afraid my source doesn't say, except that Clark was the pilot.

Unfortunately Craig's files have not been digitised on the NAA but you could ask for copies:

http://naa12.naa.gov.au/Login.htm

Click on "Guest"

Search for "416549" - his service number. Don't bother with the first file as that refers to another operational loss in which he was involved.

Surprisingly there appears to be no Casualty Repatriation file for his final crash, but one of the other two may give indications to when he was transferred to the BCIS - this would then indicate whether he was being trained, or had been there long enough to have indertaken the course itself and become a master Instructor

K

Thanks once again K, I appreciate your time and experience.

I searched, as you advised, and the first one appears to be the Casualty Repatriation -
Title
CRAIG, William Gordon - (Flying Officer); Service Number - 416549; File type - Casualty - Repatriation; Aircraft - Wellington LN 585; Place - Finningley Yorks, United Kingdom; Date - 10 April 1945

The second refers to the Australian War Memorial, and the third, I think, is a personnel file, but the access status is 'not yet examined' so may not be available.

Have I found the same records, or is my delicate shade of green showing through?

Regards,
Colin

[ike]

thank you
 yes thats my post but hes doesn't seem to want to be found