Some of the Few
Military Aircrew don't always make it back safely do they? I live in Andover, UK, and I took a short-cut home through the church yard this morning and made a note of these inscriptions:
LAC E V Morgan - Wireless Operator/Observer (RAF) - 21 years old - died 16 March 1940
Plt Off I H Acland – Air Observer (RCAF) – 26 – 18 March 1941
Sgt T Jeffries – Wireless Operator/Air Gunner – died aged 20
Flt Sgt W J Stevenson - Wireless Operator/Air Gunner – 22 – 8 April 1942
Sgt R C Hunter - Wireless Operator/Air Gunner (RNZAF) – 27 – 30 March 1942
Sgt M H Vincent - Wireless Operator/Observer – 31 – 8 May 1942
Plt Off R W Papineau – Air Bomber – 26 – 4 August 1943
Flight Cadet S H Millard – 18 years old – died 16 Oct 1918
Flight Cadet F K Foss – 18 years old – died 24 Oct 1918
Lt J F Slavik – died aged 26
2nd Lt J S V R Van der Spuy – 23 years old – died 25 November 1918
Capt M N McLoughlin – 46 years old – died 13 Oct 1943
13779 Member May Alexandra Nutley (WRAF) died 24 August 1918
These are only the ones I could positively identify as aviators or support crew. What stories do you think might lie behind these inscriptions?
How did the flight cadets buy it and what about poor May Alexandra Nutley, whose rank was listed as "Member"?
Capt McLoughlin lived to the ripe old age of 46 - was that lucky?
As far as I can make out only Slavik and Van der Spuy were pilots. Any comments?