Gareth James aka sospanfawr wrote this request in an other topic:
Dear Gareth,Hi All,
I'm trying to research my Great Uncle's (Gwilym Powell) wartime record. He was a Flt Sgt (Nav) on a Short Stirling Aircraft and according to his CWGC grave he was killed on 19-05-1944 and was a member of 620 Sqn RAFVR. His service number was 1457467. The family folk lore says that he was killed whilst on practive manouevers for D-Day when two stirlings collided mid air after a drop.
Any information on him would be gratefully received.
Yours
Gareth James aka sospanfawr.
Taken from 'Though Without Anger' by Colin Cummings:
19 May 1944
Stirling IV EF244
1 mile west-south-west of Kempsford
At the conclusion of a glider towing exercise, involving a large formation converging on Netheravon, the crew of this aircraft based at RAF Fairford flew back to an area near their station on which the crews were to drop the tow ropes. This aircraft had broken away from the formation but then attempted to rejoin by flying into the dropping area on a different track to that briefed. The crew failed to keep a good lookout and the aircraft flew into another (LJ880) from the same squadron. Both aircraft crashed from about 400 feet after breaking up.
All the crew of the 2 aircraft died.
On board EF 244:
Flight Sergeant Arthur Bruce HYNES 20 RAAF Pilot
Sergeant Robert Max COTTERELL 23 Bomb Aimer
Sergeant Albert Thomas FRANCKS 24 Wireless Operator
Sergeant Garmon Peter JONES 22 Air Gunner
Flight Sergeant Gwilym POWELL 21 Navigator
Sergeant James Walter TAYLOR 19 Flight Engineer
On board LJ880:
Flight Lieutenant Richard Owen FRANCIS 20 RCAF
Flying Officer Keith Alexander HILLS 25 RCAF
Flying Officer Llewellyn Quinlan JENKINS 23
Sergeant Norman Harry FLACK 19
Flight Sergeant Richard KENNEDY 21
Flight Sergeant Anthony Edmund HILL 22
If you want I can also send you by mail the scan of 4 pages written about this sad day, with a photo of the crew (unfortunately of bad quality) and witnesses accounts, taken from the excellent book 'Stirlings in Action with Airbornes Forces' by Dennis Williams.
A last question:
Would it be possible to obtain a photo of your Great Uncle?
I thank you in advance.
Best regards.
Bruno LECAPLAIN