Hurricane pilot grave
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Kenneth (arthur) James Vaughan
Ref Post #20.
I wish I had all that info last evening. I spent hours looking through Birth and Marriage Index for Arthur James Vaughan.
Is that the total knowledge of this guy or are there more surprises to come ?
I did discover that his Service No. (96680) was issued in September 1939 at RAF Uxbridge.
Philrigger.
OK, so what we have so far is a birth date around 1900, perhaps in Africa and perhaps being sent to school in England. He (and therefore his parents) were of independent means, most likely planters in either Nyasaland or South Africa.
For an as yet unknown reason he travels to the UK in 1925 (meets prospective wife?). It could be assumed that he married Christine in Africa, hence no UK records and they came to England on honeymoon in April 1926.
Kenneth/Arthur then joined the RAF for a 5 year commission in July 1926 but leaves in August 1927. The most likely reason would be say the death of his father/parents. Whilst he appears to have quit his commission, he returns via Port Said (travelling up from Africa by?boat, road, air or somehow) still in the RAF (what rank? would you drop out of officer training and just "become" a sergeant??).
Whatever, he returns in September 1927 and disappears into the RAF until mysteriously surfacing after force landing a Hurricane in 1941.
No one would just let "someone" fly a Hurricane, especially long enough to run out of fuel on a lone mission, but he does seem inexperienced by running out of fuel fairly close to home base.
So what was he doing?
He was obviously on the strength of Baders 242 Squadron and whatever you think of him, I'm sure he would not tolerate anyone just taking an aircraft for a jaunt. Was he ribbed about being "Pops" and thought he'd show them he could fly?
Things just didn't happen like that, there must have been "questions" asked if he wasn't authorised to be in the aircraft.
Someone must have arranged the funeral (Christine?) but no one knows of any connection... and why Sir Bernard Bircham, were the Vaughans related in some way to him, or did he have an estate or property near the village?
I thought practically every WW2 air crash had been recorded and chewed over by hundreds of people in the last 70 years - obviously not in this case!!
Come on, we're a long way down the line, we're almost there!!
For an as yet unknown reason he travels to the UK in 1925 (meets prospective wife?). It could be assumed that he married Christine in Africa, hence no UK records and they came to England on honeymoon in April 1926.
Kenneth/Arthur then joined the RAF for a 5 year commission in July 1926 but leaves in August 1927. The most likely reason would be say the death of his father/parents. Whilst he appears to have quit his commission, he returns via Port Said (travelling up from Africa by?boat, road, air or somehow) still in the RAF (what rank? would you drop out of officer training and just "become" a sergeant??).
Whatever, he returns in September 1927 and disappears into the RAF until mysteriously surfacing after force landing a Hurricane in 1941.
No one would just let "someone" fly a Hurricane, especially long enough to run out of fuel on a lone mission, but he does seem inexperienced by running out of fuel fairly close to home base.
So what was he doing?
He was obviously on the strength of Baders 242 Squadron and whatever you think of him, I'm sure he would not tolerate anyone just taking an aircraft for a jaunt. Was he ribbed about being "Pops" and thought he'd show them he could fly?
Things just didn't happen like that, there must have been "questions" asked if he wasn't authorised to be in the aircraft.
Someone must have arranged the funeral (Christine?) but no one knows of any connection... and why Sir Bernard Bircham, were the Vaughans related in some way to him, or did he have an estate or property near the village?
I thought practically every WW2 air crash had been recorded and chewed over by hundreds of people in the last 70 years - obviously not in this case!!
Come on, we're a long way down the line, we're almost there!!
Maybe the reason for returning to the UK in Sept27 is possibly that he was u/t at a ME FTS,possibly chopped,or maybe a family crisis so then returned to Africa,returning later to rejoin as an NCO(not having completed his probationary `commission`).
Philrigger- The service no. is given as 916680,not 96680;however , the date of issue may indicate a `window` where he may have returned again,by ship/air to UK and be on other manifests.He may then have gone off to an FTS and then to 242. The info in the Gazette states he was killed on active service,so he may have been returning,possibly injured,damaged,and lost fuel that way.
Another site gives the aircraft as a Mk2 Hurricane,not a Mk1(`sonsofdamien).
Possibly Christine remained in Africa at this time as well,maybe returning after the war.
Philrigger- The service no. is given as 916680,not 96680;however , the date of issue may indicate a `window` where he may have returned again,by ship/air to UK and be on other manifests.He may then have gone off to an FTS and then to 242. The info in the Gazette states he was killed on active service,so he may have been returning,possibly injured,damaged,and lost fuel that way.
Another site gives the aircraft as a Mk2 Hurricane,not a Mk1(`sonsofdamien).
Possibly Christine remained in Africa at this time as well,maybe returning after the war.
From John Foreman's Air War 1941: The Turning Point (part 2) (Air Britain), p.115 (entry for 26 Apr 41)
The Arthur James Vaughan serving in 1926-27 is in the RAF list for 1927 as a PO with seniority 14 July 1926); he doesn't appear in the 1926 (naturally) or 1928 Lists. In the '27 List he is recorded as being at 4FTS at Abu Suier.
Sgt Vaughan's 242 Squadron aircraft was hit in the fuel tanks by Leutnant Tonne and, half way across the Channel, his engine cut. Although he managed to glide to the English coast he was killed [sic] attempting to force-land at Dungeness.
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Sorry philrigger, was passed that info when i mentioned what i was doing to the parish church warden yesterday...he mailed me that info last night hence the post.....
That is all i have ....promise....
Thanks for all the extra info, most interesting, I too had thought all crashes etc would have been well documented, though it appears not....
All extra info most apreciated, even if we never find out why he is buried wher he is.
Suffice to say, al the extra info will be put in the church as a record as currently the parish has only scant details.
Currently looking for a will.....
That is all i have ....promise....
Thanks for all the extra info, most interesting, I too had thought all crashes etc would have been well documented, though it appears not....
All extra info most apreciated, even if we never find out why he is buried wher he is.
Suffice to say, al the extra info will be put in the church as a record as currently the parish has only scant details.
Currently looking for a will.....
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News in overnight.....
Sir Bernard Edward Halsley Bircham Kc.V.O was married to........Ivy Clelia Guilietta Vaughan....
Possible connection as to his sponsor in the 1920's.....investgating this link.....was this Vaughans mother /sister / aunt?
Sir Bernard Edward Halsley Bircham Kc.V.O was married to........Ivy Clelia Guilietta Vaughan....
Possible connection as to his sponsor in the 1920's.....investgating this link.....was this Vaughans mother /sister / aunt?
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Vaughan Connections
This is from the 1911 Census for the Bircham family. Not sure that it helps.
BIRCHAM, Bernard Edward Halsey Head Married M 42 1869 Solicitor London
BIRCHAM, Ivy Clelia Halsey Wife (Married 13 years) F 34 1877 Winchester
BIRCHAM, Arthur Christopher Halsey Son Single M 3 1908 Worplesdon Surrey
TUCKER, Beatrice Annie Servant Single F 27 1884 Nurse Axminster Devon
THOMPSON, Sarah Ann Servant Single F 28 1883 Parlourmaid Edithweston Rutland
PRIOR, Sarah Gregory Servant Single F 40 1871 Cook Binstead Hants
WATTS, Annie Eliza Servant Single F 23 1888 Housemaid Yorkley Glos
GOWER, Grace Emily Servant Single F 20 1891 Housemaid Scaynes Hill Sussex
Not sure if this is the man or not; Taken from the 1911 census.
Ingleside Haine Hill Terrace, Taunton
VAUGHAN, Kenneth Boarder M 10 1901 School Boarding House Glamorgan, Cardiff
If his parents were overseas at the time then the normal practice would have been to send the children to UK for schooling.
Philrigger
Last edited by philrigger; 20th Jan 2010 at 09:07.
