Military Chat

I am trying to find out when and where my late uncle died in France when his plane was shot down during ww2
His name was robert deans and he was born in Glasgow in 1921 he was very young when he died possibly around 1940. Does anyone have access to records or could you tell me the best site to use. Thanks

Hi Irene, use this site

http://www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead.aspx

if you enter surname Deans and first name Robert
(be sure to tick Name rather than Initials)

and select WW2

you will find his record (first of the 3 Roberts shown) ... he was 21

this is the direct link

http://www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/2686001/DEANS,%20ROBERT

I won't copy the info here as you will want to look at site

you can download a certificate, and click to see the cemetery where he is buried

... actually it seems there are only four war graves there, and it looks like they were all on the same flight as your uncle

'Sacquenay is a village 36 kilometres north-east of Dijon and 5 kilometres south-east of Occey. The Churchyard is in the centre of the village.'

if you go to Google Maps and search for Sacquenay France,
select satellite view and zoom in

you can see the church right where the pointer puts you

you can use streetview to go to the road in front of the church

Thankyou so much this is just what I wanted. Much appreciated.

You're very welcome. I had a look around the village at google streetview myself. Peaceful, but far from home.

You'll find a photo of his headstone on the site.
http://twgpp.org/search.php

For a 'donation' of £3.50 they'll email you a copy.

I've never seen an operations record book, but I'ld be inclined to purchase one of these two files.
My guess is the first - guess wrong and I'ld maybe buy the other, depending on what they show.


Squadron Number: 158 Summary of Events: Y
Order and viewing options
£3.30

1 file approximately 0 MB
Add to basket

View free at The National Archives
Image viewer
This record is available to view with our image viewer. Show images
Reference: AIR 27/1048/36
Description:
Squadron Number: 158
Summary of Events: Y
Date: 1943 July 01 - 1943 July 31
Held by: The National Archives, Kew
Former reference in its original department IIM/E158/1
Legal status: Public Record



Squadron Number: 158 Records of Events: Y
Order and viewing options
£3.30

1 file approximately 0 MB
Add to basket

View free at The National Archives
Image viewer
This record is available to view with our image viewer. Show images
Reference: AIR 27/1048/37
Description:
Squadron Number: 158
Records of Events: Y
Date: 1943 July 01 - 1943 July 31
Held by: The National Archives, Kew
Former reference in its original department IIM/E158/1
Legal status: Public Record


=======================

I don't know abt Halifax Mk II, but the Mk III had a crew of 6 or 7, so maybe there were some survivors from your uncle's flight - presumably made POW.
I know the Halifax was a much easier aircraft to escape out of than a Lancaster.

========================

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/No._158_Squadron_RAF