Memorial to No11 OTU CREWS

[SKYBYWAYS]

I live in the village of North Marston Buckinghamshire where, on the evening of4h January 1945 a Wellington X (HE740?) from No.11 OTU at Westcott dived into the ground from 5,000' and burnt out killing all hands. It has been decided to erect a memorial in our local church in respect of the three RNZF and three RAFVR crew. We have traced relatives for all the NZ crew members who, rightly, are highly supportive. Sadly we have had no such luck with the RAFVR crew members:
1606781 Sgt ian Philip Hendy SMITH (Navigator) - NOK Beckenham, Kent
1894709 Sgt John Arthur WENHAM (Air Gunner) - NOK Maidstone, Kent
1899494 Sgt Reginald Benjamin PRICE (Air Gunner) - NOK Brighton
Whilst an ever helpful War Graves Commission has been able to produce NOK names (none of whom we can locate) there could be a sporting chance that the extensive PPRUNE coverage may come up with an answer or ideas as to how we can further pursue this matter. Grateful for any ideas.

[Old-Duffer]

Many of the immediate relatives will be long gone but, in my experience of this sort of search, there are often nephews/nieces, younger siblings etc. Very few people are only children of only children - there are relatives out there!!


Try the local press with an appeal for family/friends.


Ask the local secondary schools if they still have memorabilia/school photos


Local radio appeals


A search of local papers for the men who died, which probably contained contemporary tributes to the dead crew and might have revealed other relatives


Involve the RAFA/RBL in the Kent/Sussex area - with three guys from the south east quadrant it ought not to be too difficult to get a 'campaign' together.


Remembrance Day is coming soon. I'll bet if you stand at any of the local war memorials or ask the local ATC units to help, you'll get some sort of response.


Old Duffer

[teeteringhead]

I'll bet if you stand at any of the local war memorials or ask the local ATC units to help, you'll get some sort of response. Indeed so O-D. A good project for Kent Wing and Sussex Wing......

[mmitch]

The Kent Messenger group cover Kent. There are also some local newspapers
too. Bob Ogley a local historian has a page in some.
Kent Messenger Ltd (http://kentmessenger.newsprints.co.uk/)
mmitch

[CoffmanStarter]

Might be worth a follow-up ...

Kent Aviation Historical Research Society
Tulip TreeCottage
Lovers Lane
Goudhurst
Cranbrook
TN17 1JE

Contact: Mr K A Owen

But I'm not sure how current the above details are ...

Also it might be worth trying ...

RAF History Museum
Manston Road
Ramsgate
Kent CT12 5DF

01843 825224

[David Thompson]

I've put a thread up on the Airfield Information Exchange forum which hopefully may be beneficial to both forums and SKYBYWAYS in particular ;

North Marston , memorial proposed to 11 OTU Wellington crew - help required (http://www.airfieldinformationexchange.org/community/showthread.php?13852-North-Marston-memorial-proposed-to-11-OTU-Wellington-crew-help-required&p=151697#post151697)