Looking for relatives of crew of Lancaster ND867 - 61 Squadron

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neil40
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Looking for relatives of crew of Lancaster ND867 - 61 Squadron

Post by neil40 »

Hello all,

My Uncle, William Edwin 'Ted' Grantham was pilot of Lancaster ND867 (QR-V) of 61 Squadron. He flew many sorties with Bill North (subject of Chris Keltie's book "Riding in the Shadow of Death")
They crashed on the second operation to St. Leu d'Esserent V1 storage facility (the first was when Bill North crashed). 5 were killed and 2 escaped.

The crew were as follows:
Pilot - 172419 F/L William Edwin Grantham (Killed)
Flight Engineer - 1891300 Sgt Geoffrey Albert Berry (POW)
Navigator - 1394703 F/S William John Hobbs (Killed)
Wireless/Air gunner - 1431592 F/S Ronald Towndrow (Killed)
Bomb aimer - 71412 F/S Thomas Clifford Young (Evaded)
Tail gunner - 1852464 Sgt Peter Henry Baigent (Killed)
Mid upper gunner - 933476 Sgt Charles Arthur Balser (Killed)

I have been successful in contacting relatives of Hobbs, Young, Baigent and Balser.

If anyone knows of relatives of Geoff Berry or Ron Towndrow, I'd be very grateful, or indeed if any look in here, please contact me.

Thanks
Neil
Last edited by neil40 on Fri Dec 18, 2015 5:14 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Researching the crew of Lancaster ND867 (QR-V) 61 Squadron, lost 8th July 1944
Peter
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Re: Looking for relatives of crew of Lancaster ND867 - 61 Squadron

Post by Peter »

There is a possibility that Ronald Towndrow was born in 1922 in Sheffield.
Younger brother Raymond and older sister Dorothy.

hope this helps
Peter
neil40
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Re: Looking for relatives of crew of Lancaster ND867 - 61 Squadron

Post by neil40 »

Hi Peter

I found on the 50/61 Squadron website, a chap called Keith Vause, also looking for Ronald Towndrow information. Unfortunately he passed away, but I managed to speak to his wife, who told me that Keith was linked to the family in some way, and also, that he was from Sheffield.

I wonder how you derived this information?

Regards
Neil
Researching the crew of Lancaster ND867 (QR-V) 61 Squadron, lost 8th July 1944
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K4KittyCrew
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Re: Looking for relatives of crew of Lancaster ND867 - 61 Squadron

Post by K4KittyCrew »

neil40 wrote:Hi Peter

I found on the 50/61 Squadron website, a chap called Keith Vause, also looking for Ronald Towndrow information. Unfortunately he passed away, but I managed to speak to his wife, who told me that Keith was linked to the family in some way, and also, that he was from Sheffield.

I wonder how you derived this information?

Regards
Neil
Could it be that our friendly moderator, 'Alan W' who happens to assist us here on this forum, is also the moderator on the 50 / 61 Squadron forum.
John
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neil40
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Re: Looking for relatives of crew of Lancaster ND867 - 61 Squadron

Post by neil40 »

I have now contacted one of Ron Towndrow's nieces

Cheers
Neil
Researching the crew of Lancaster ND867 (QR-V) 61 Squadron, lost 8th July 1944
Peter
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Re: Looking for relatives of crew of Lancaster ND867 - 61 Squadron

Post by Peter »

Peter wrote:There is a possibility that Ronald Towndrow was born in 1922 in Sheffield.
Younger brother Raymond and older sister Dorothy.

hope this helps
Peter

Hi Neil
It's an unusual name and I did a little research for your in the Birth's Marriages and Deaths.
good luck
Peter
neil40
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Re: Looking for relatives of crew of Lancaster ND867 - 61 Squadron

Post by neil40 »

Peter wrote:
Peter wrote:There is a possibility that Ronald Towndrow was born in 1922 in Sheffield.
Younger brother Raymond and older sister Dorothy.

hope this helps
Peter

Hi Neil
It's an unusual name and I did a little research for your in the Birth's Marriages and Deaths.
good luck
Peter
Cheers Peter

I'd found a few candidates on FreeBMD website, in Sheffield and Chesterfield.
There are a further 2 siblings, I contacted the daughter of Ron's eldest brother this morning!

Neil
Researching the crew of Lancaster ND867 (QR-V) 61 Squadron, lost 8th July 1944
Peter
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Re: Looking for relatives of crew of Lancaster ND867 - 61 Squadron

Post by Peter »

Well done
neil40
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Re: Looking for relatives of crew of Lancaster ND867 - 61 Squadron

Post by neil40 »

Happy to report contact with Geoff Berry's daughter end of last week.

Now in touch with all crew members families

Cheers
Neil
Researching the crew of Lancaster ND867 (QR-V) 61 Squadron, lost 8th July 1944
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