Flight Sergeant – Wireless Operator – Bombers

[Source: CMHA]

605649 – L.R.R. Ablack – Trinidad – attested 5.9.43 – Sgt. Wireless Operator/Air Gunner #5 OTU 2510.44

[Source: NA AIR 2/6876]

Major – RCAF – MIA

Reported missing June 1944. son of Errol Rooks, RFC/RAF WWI No data on CWGC or Canadian

[Source: CMHA]

106025 – Flight Lieutenant – Pilot – 618 Sqn – Mosquito Mk VI, HR576 – KIA

Educated QRC; enlisted Feb 1941. Volunteered in UK. On 2nd May 1945, Mosquito piloted by Rochford crashed at Petersham NSW Australia on an operational rest flight at 1145hrs. The a/c on fire disintegrated on diving and crashed into surrounding buildings. Both Pilot and Observer died in the crash.

[Source: CMHA, CG]

[Newspaper clipping courtesy Audrey Dewjee]

135135 – Flying Officer – Pilot – 36 RAF FS, Penhold, Alberta – Oxford X6734 – KIA at 21

Educated at QRC, played cricket & football for QRC, played cricket for Trinidad. FO Merry as instructor in Oxford X6734 of 36 FS crashed amongst the trees and burnt out two miles south of Penhold airport. The accident occured at approx. 2335hrs on 4th May 1944. The pilot lost his life after ordering his pupils to parachute to safety and remaining behind to hold a/c steady so they could get out. Son of the Venerable Francis Lee Merry, B.A. and Mary Graham Merry, of Port of Spain, Trinidad.

[Source: CMHA]

Name: MERRY, DAVID
Initials: D
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Flying Officer
Regiment/Service: Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
Age: 21
Date of Death: 04/05/1944
Service No: 135135
Additional information: Son of the Venerable Francis Lee Merry, B.A. and Mary Graham Merry, of Port of Spain, Trinidad.
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: Lot 7. Block F.
Cemetery: RED DEER CEMETERY

[Source: www.WW2chat.com]

F/O David Merry (135135) and his pupil LAC George Conway (NZ435950) departed No. 36 SFTS Penhold in Alberta, Canada for a night navigation training flight night of 4 May 1944. Shortly after their departure in Oxford X6734 the area was engulfed by heavy smoke from forest fires that resulted in extremely poor visibility. It is believed that the accident flight was attempting to return to aerodrome when aircraft hit poplar trees in a wings level position while under considerable power.

Impacting the ground hard the aircraft was mostly destroyed in the subsequent fire which consumed virtually all of the fuselage. The wreckage at the accident location 2 miles south of aerodrome was ultimately only found 5 days later with both occupants deceased.

(Based on the formal RCAF inquiry 1300-X6734-1)

On 4 May 2022 a commemorative ceremony was held at the accident location courtesy of the Harvard Historical Aviation Society. The ceremony included laying a wreath as well as a 4-ship Missing Man Formation flyby performed by a local flying club.

Lest we forget.

1391860 – A.A. Graham – Trinidad – W/O – Pilot – attested 6.6.41 – K. 12.9.44

[Source: NA AIR 2/6876 – Nominal Roll of Coloured Candidates, October 1944]

From Operations Record Book, No. 118 Squadron at Peterhead:

24/9/43 F.Sgt. Pilot Graham 1391850 (!) from the West Indies posted from No. 52 O.T.U. During the Squadrons history we have had pilots from the following places: – Canada, New Zealand, Australia. Ceylon, France, Denmark, Holland, Belgium, Norway, U.S.A. and now West Indies

12/10/43  AR323 F/Sgt Graham A.A. – Dawn Patrol 07:15-08:20 – Patrolled Peterhead – (unreadable)
14/10/43  AB782 F/Sgt Graham A.A. – Dawn Patrol 07:05-07:55 – Peterhead – (unreadable). Nothing to report
1/12/43    AR377 F/Sgt Graham A.A. – Scramble 11:10-11:40 – These two Sections were up from Castletown after X raid

2/12/43   BL335 F/Sgt Graham A.A. – Scramble 15:10-15:20 – Recalled when airborne. Friendly
5/12/43   BM272 F/Sgt Graham A.A. – Dawn Patrol 09:15-10:15 – Uneventful Dawn Patrol
7/12/43   AR377  F/Sgt Graham A.A. – Dusk Patrol 16:15-17:45 – Both patrols uneventful
9/12/43   BM648 F/Sgt Graham A.A. – Dusk Patrol 16:10-17:25 – Uneventful patrols

[Courtesy: Mark E .Salt, Buchan Aero Club/RAF Peterhead Historian]

1391860 – Warrant Officer – Pilot – 1690 Flt, RAF Scampton – Martinet – KIA at 24

Educated at QRC; nickname “Sonny”; Volunteer Trinidad ETS, trained at Piarco; Martinet HP321 of 1690 Flight, RAF Scampton, piloted by Graham with LAC Lewis on board encountered engine failure and force landed at Hucknall aerodrome. Graham killed instantly, Lewis died in hospital – Son of Ambrose Nathaniel and Francisca Graham, of Bpasso Piedpa, Trinidad.

[Source: CMHA]

Name: GRAHAM, AMBROSE ALEXANDER
Initials: A A
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Warrant Officer (Pilot)
Regiment/Service: Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
Age: 24
Date of Death: 12/09/1944
Service No: 1391860
Additional information: Son of Ambrose Nathaniel and Francisca Graham, of Bpasso Piedpa, Trinidad.
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: Sec. D. Grave 7A.
Cemetery: HUCKNALL CEMETERY

[Source: www.WW2chat.com]

[Picture courtesy Paul de La Bastide]

Name: (listed on memorial as:) KENNY, GERALD PATRICK (should be: Patrick ‘Gerald’ Oliver Kenny’)
Initials: G P
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Sergeant (Rear Air Gnr.)
Regiment/Service: Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
Unit Text: 195 Sqdn.
Age: 37
Date of Death: 02/11/1944 (Date of birth: Jan 20 1907)
Service No: 1835809
Additional information: Son of Dr. Thomas Bernard Kenny, M.D., and Cecile Kenny, of Trinidad.
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: XV. B. 7.
Cemetery: GROESBEEK CANADIAN WAR CEMETERY

[Source: www.WW2chat.com]

135490 – Flying Officer – Pilot – 268 Sqn – Mustang – KIA at 21

Mustang AFD 559 of 268 Sqn piloted by FO Fraser collided in mid air with another Mustang at 1540hrs 27 May 1944. Collision took place about 1 1/2 miles SW of ??. Buried Forfar Cemetery, Angus, Scotland, Compartment T, Square 56, Grave 3 Son of Dickson and Annie C. Fraser, of Port of Spain, Trinidad.

[Source: CMHA]

Name: FRASER, ALEXANDER DALGETY (SANDY)
Initials: A D
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Flying Officer (Pilot)
Regiment/Service: Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
Unit Text: 268 Sqdn.
Age: 21
Date of Death: 27/05/1944
Service No: 135490
Additional information: Son of Dickson and Annie C. Fraser, of Port of Spain, Trinidad.
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: Compt. T. Sq. 56. Grave 3.
Cemetery: FORFAR CEMETERY

[Source: www.WW2chat.com]

1393818 – Flight Sergeant – Pilot – 59 OTU – Hurricane – KIA at 26

Volunteer UK; Hurricane AG111 crashed at 1500hrs 5 May 1943 4 miles from Donnington Airfield. Pilot killed in accident. Buried Perth Wellshill Cemetery, Scotland, Section 0, Jeanfield division, grave 15. Son of Henry Alexander and Jesamina de Freitas; husband of Helen de Freitas, of Perth. B.Sc.

[Source: CMHA]

5. Henry Anselm de Freitas. Born abt 1917 in Trinidad, WI.[20] Henry Anselm died in United Kingdom on 6 May 1943; he was 26.[20] Buried in Perth (Wellshill) Cemetery, Div. Grave 15. Served in the military.

Military: Flight Sergeant, Pilot, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
ID # 1393818[20]

Honors:

First West Indian to be Awarded the Air Force Medal. The Air Force Medal is awarded to non-commissioned officers and men for an act or acts of valour, courage or devotion to duty performed whilst flying, though not in active operations against the enemy.[32].

[Source: Rootsweb]

119712 – Pilot Officer – OTU RAF Annan – Hurricane – KIA at 19

Killed flying Hurricane V7466 on 4 May 1942 in an aircraft accident near Annan, Dumfries, Scotland – Engine failure. Buried Annan Cemetery, Dumfries, Section R, Grave 36. Volunteered ETS, trained at Piarco. Educated QRC Son of Capt. W. F. Bryden, M.C., and Flossie Bryden, of Port of Spain, Trinidad.

[Source: CMHA]

Name: BRYDEN, RICHARD ARTHUR
Initials: R A
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Pilot Officer (Pilot)
Regiment/Service: Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
Age: 19
Date of Death: 04/05/1942
Service No: 119712
Additional information: Son of Capt. W. F. Bryden, M.C., and Flossie Bryden, of Port of Spain, Trinidad.
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: Sec. R. Grave 36.
Cemetery: ANNAN CEMETERY

[Source: www.WW2chat.com]