Hi Gareth and welcome to this forum,
I've pulled out some info from sources I have to hand relevant to the loss of your great uncle which I hope will be of some help to your research.
Extract from We Act with One Accord by Alan Cooper
On 28/29 August 1942, eight 35 Sqdn aircraft were despatched on op to Nuremburg. With the weather being good and the Pathfinder Technique successful, 53% photographs were obtained when only 30 were expected. P/O Taylor in Halifax W7700 TL-C and Sgt John in W7676 TL-P failed to return. Taylor and his crew were all killed as were Sgt John's.
Extract from RAF Bomber Command Losses 1942 by W R Chorley
Halifax II W7700 TL-C took off 2032 from Gravely. Grashed near Montcornet (Aisne), 35 km NE of Laon, Grance. All onboard were killed and are buried in Montcornet Military Cemetery.
Crew list:-
P/O F J Taylor RCAF
Sgt G F Bush
F/O A Cook RCAF
Sgt G J Phillips
Sgt M F Robbins RCAF
F/Sgt P W Tucker-Feltham
Sgt H S McCartney
Commonwealth War Graves Commission website www.cwgc.org has the following entry:-
| Name: |
McCARTNEY, HERBERT SYDNEY |
| Initials: |
H S |
| Nationality: |
United Kingdom |
| Rank: |
Sergeant (Air Gnr.) |
| Regiment/Service: |
Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve |
| Unit Text: |
35 Sqdn. |
| Age: |
24 |
| Date of Death: |
28/08/1942 |
| Service No: |
1354651 |
| Additional information: |
Son of John Joseph and Harriet I. McCartney, of Belfast, Northern Ireland. |
| Casualty Type: |
Commonwealth War Dead |
| Grave/Memorial Reference: |
Row M. Grave 2. |
| Cemetery: |
MONTCORNET MILITARY CEMETERY |
My grandfather was a pilot with 35 Squadron but was killed in March 1942 so I have a few bits and pieces of info on the Squadron and people who were with them during that period. Although a slightly different timescale from when Herbie was there you may find some of the pages on my website of interest http://mysite.wanadoo-members.co.uk/archie_bombercommand/index.html
Your great uncle was one of the first few crews from 35 Squadron lost after their move from Linton-on-Ouse to Gravely when the Squadron became one of the very first Pathfinder forces.
I have a series of extracts from the ORB's (Operational Record Books) for 35 Sqdn but they only go as far as May 1942 and there is no sign of your great uncle being with the Sqdn at that point in time so he may have been in another Sqdn or completing training with 35 Sqdn being his first.
You could try applying for a copy of his Service Records. It will probably amount to two pages of A3 photocopy and at first glance most is a complete mystery of sequences of letters and numbers. They all mean something and there are folk on here and other forums who can help to make sense of it. It should list all this training courses and postings which would allow you to start putting together a picture of his career in the RAF. The address to write to (unless someone knows a more up-to-date one) PMA (CS) 2a (2)b (RAF), Building 248, HQ RAF Personnel & Training Command, RAF Innsworth, Gloucester, GL3 1EZ
They don't release the records to just anyone but you may qualify as next of kin PMA is not a public record repository, and can only release records of service to the RAF officer or airman concerned, or to next-of-kin. Anyone else must obtain written permission from the person about whom they are enquiring before approaching PMA. A fee of £25 is levied for each record researched.
Will leave you to digest the above and don't hesitate to pop back here if you have questions about any of it or think of more questions you want to find answers to.
Regards
Linzee
