Archive Report: Allied Forces

Compiled from official National Archive and Service sources, contemporary press reports, personal logbooks, diaries and correspondence, reference books, other sources, and interviews.

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28.08.1941. No. 21 Squadron. Blenheim IV V6436 YH-L P/O. Orme

Operation: Rotterdam

Date: 28th August 1941 (Thursday)

Unit: No. 21 Squadron

Type: Bristol Blenheim IV

Serial: V6436

Code: YH-L

Location: Maassluis (Zuid Holland)

Pilot: P/O. Frank Kerr Orme J/3739 RCAF Age 25. Killed (1)

Observer: P/O. Stanley Frederick Maude Gunnis 63809 RAFVR Age 23. Killed

W/Op/A/Gnr: F/O. Albert Henry Collins 82972 RAFVR Age 34. Killed

REASON FOR LOSS:

This aircraft took off from Watton at 14:47 hrs. Hit by flack and crashed at Maassluis, Zuid Holland, 14 km west south west of Rotterdam.

V6436 was one of 8 Blenheims lost on this raid, 3 others from 21 Squadron, the others:

V5825 YH-R - Flown by P/O. W.L. Macdonald RAFVR (1 killed, 2 PoW)
Z7435 YH-S - Flown by Sgt. K. Hayes RAFVR (3 killed)
Z7447 YH-A - Flown by Sq/Ldr. R.A. Shuttleworth RAFVR (3 killed).

Other Squadrons participating were 88 and 226 Squadron. 88 Sqd. lost L9379, (3 killed), Z7445, (3 killed). While 226 Sqd. lost Z7289 over the target (3 PoW), Z7299 which crashed on take-off, crew safe.

The crew, left to right: F/O. Collins, P/O. Gunnis and P/O. Orme (Courtesy of Mrs. J.M. Kelly - daughter of F/O. Collins)Above: shows P/O. Orme and his crew back at Watton after a successful attack on shipping off the Dutch coast, 18th August 1941, just 10 days before they were lost in this same aircraft V6436 YH-L. P/O. Orme can be seen climbing from the cockpit, behind him are two members of his ground crew, next to them wearing his Officers cap is P/O. Gunnis, and far right on top of the fuselage is F/O. Collins.

Above: photo also taken on 18th August 1941, P/O. Orme is far right, P/O. Gunnis 3rd from right, as F/O. Collins climbs from his hatch, having given his parachute harness to a member of the ground staff.

(1) Orme Lake in Ontario is named after P/O. Orme

Burial Details:

P/O. Frank Kerr Orme. Hook of Holland General Cemetery. Row F. Collective grave 35. Son of Frank Laurence Orme and Mildred Kerr Orme, of Rockcliffe, Ontario, Canada. A Badminton Champion of Ottawa, awarded a Gold medal in Chartered Accountant's Course. Grave inscription reads: "For Ever A Little Bit Of Canada".

P/O. Stanley Frederick Maude Gunnis. Hook of Holland General Cemetery. Row F. Collective grave 35. Son of Matthew Gunnis, and of Elizabeth Dorman Gunnis, of Alloa, Clackmannanshire, Scotland. Grave inscription reads: "He Flew Past Hardship To The Stars. Ever Remembered".

F/O. Albert Henry Collins. Hook of Holland General Cemetery. Row F. Collective grave 35. Son of Albert and Rose Collins and husband of Winifred Emma Collins, of Shepherds' Bush, London, England. Grave inscription reads: "In Memory Of A Beloved Husband And Father, Who Is For Ever In Our Thoughts".

Researched for Mrs. J.M. Kelly - daughter of F/O. Collins and all the relatives of the crew. With thanks to the following sources.

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