JJs Girl (no login) from IP address 152.163.100.195
Hello everyone,
I am looking to find any information and to connect with any relatives of crew members of a Halifax crash of August 1943.
Date of crash - 19th August 1943
Incident - 2 Halifax planes collided in mid air over the fields of Copmanthorpe, York during a cross country training exercise. Halifax II- 1658 HCU from RAF Riccall collided with Halifax V - 1663 HCU from RAF Rufforth .14 crew members from both planes all killed.
Crew members:
Halifax II (R9497) 1658 HCU From RICCALL:
SGT T C ASHLEY
SGT T R MCMEEKAN
SGT A J ALLAN
F/O R F WALKER
SGT J J O'BRIEN ( MY UNCLE )
SGT F COSFORD
SGT D L H WOOSTER
Halifax V (DG420) 1663 HCU C FLIGHT From RUFFORTH
SGT D C RAVINE
F/O M W BONNER RCAF
SGT N J HART
SGT J H TOWNSEND
SGT P C PARROTT
SGT F D READ
SGT A E GILVERSON RCAF
Any information on either Halifax, crew member, photos, or accounts of life with HCU during this period would be greatly appreciated.
My starting point for tracing relatives for the above named would be to go to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission website www.cwgc.org and use their excellent searchable database to locate each of the above men. It's possible that their entry will give you the names of next-of-kin and where they lived (at time of death or there about). This will give you areas in which to concentrate your search.
For example if you searched for Sgt T C Ashley they have the following info:-
Name: ASHLEY, TERRANCE CLAUDE
Initials: T C
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Sergeant (Pilot)
Regiment/Service: Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
Age: 20
Date of Death: 19/08/1943
Service No: 1337699
Additional information: Son of Laurence Claud and Edith Amelia Ashley, of Runsam, Barnstaple.
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: Plot F. Cons. Grave 331.
Cemetery: BARNSTAPLE CEMETERY
They have listed Son of Laurence Claud and Edith Amelia Ashley, of Runsam, Barnstaple. I'm not familiar with Runsam, but if, for example, it was a smallish village it may be worth writing to the local church, or indeed the church for Barnstaple Cemetery. Also find out what the local newspapers are in that area and drop a letter to the editor explaining your quest and asking for help. Local historical societies are also sometimes worth a letter or e-mail.
If the surname is an unusual or uncommon one sometimes you can have luck by using directory enquiries to locate people with the same name in the same area and you can call them or write to them if there aren't hundreds.
Also try searches online using variations of the info and you may strike lucky.
Geneology websites and forums might also give up some further clues or locations of relatives.
I'm sure there are lots of other methods that others have tried. I've used all the above at one time in another. They don't always work but I've had luck at times with all the above methods.
My uncle was Sgt. Albert Edward Gilverson of Toronto. I do not know much about his military career. In fact, you have told me more about what happened to him in your request than I had ever heard before.
It is only in the past couple of months that I have started looking into the family's history and would be happy to share some of the information I have found.
Hi Andrew,
I have a family connection to your Gilversons and actually have a photo of A.E.'s father, A.B. Gilverson, that you might like a scan of. It's a photo of the choir of Zion Congregational Church, c. 1905, of which A.B. was a member.
Just let me know.
hi i am looking into my gt uncles short lived war who was Air Gunner Sgt Fredrick David Read (1323650) who was on this plane i am currently try to work out his service record wich i have just recieved. i'am trying to find some photos if possible as we have none
