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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. P/O Orme loss

Operation: Rotterdam.

Date: 28th August 1941 (Thursday)

Unit: No. 21 Squadron R.A.F.

Type: Bristol Blenheim IV

Serial: V6436.

Code: YH - L.

Location: Maassluis (Zuid Holland)

Pilot: P/O. Frank Kerr Orme. J/3739. R.C.A.F. Age 25. Killed. (1)

Observer: P/O. Stanley Frederick Maude Gunnis. 63809. R.A.F.V.R. Age 23. Killed.

Wop/AG: F/O. Albert Henry Collins. 82972. R.A.F.V.R. Age 34. Killed.

REASON FOR LOSS:

This aircraft took off from Watton at 1447 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, V5825 YH-R, (1 killed, 2 pows), Z7435 YH-S, (3 killed), and Z7447 YH-A, (3 killed).

Other Squadrons participating were 88 Sqdn and 226 Sqdn, 88 lost L9379 RH-? (3 killed), and Z7445 RH-? (3 killed), While 226 lost Z7289 MQ-R over the target (3 pows), and Z7299 MQ-F 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 left: 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. Right: 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

Above: Hook of Holland General Cemetery

Burial Details:

P/O. Frank Kerr Orme. Hook of Holland General Cemetery Row F. Coll. grave 35.

Son of Frank Laurence Orme and Mildred Kerr Orme, of Rockcliffe, Ontario, Canada. 

P/O. Stanley Frederick Maude Gunnis. Hook of Holland General Cemetery Row F. Coll. grave 35.

Son of Matthew Gunnis, and of Elizabeth Dorman Gunnis, of Alloa, Clackmannanshire.

F/O. Albert Henry Collins. Hook of Holland General Cemetery Row F. Coll. grave 35.

Son of Albert and Rose Collins; husband of Winifred Emma Collins, of Shepherds' Bush, London.

Researched for Mrs. J.M. Kelly - daughter of F/O. Collins and all the relatives of the crew.

With thanks to the following: Bill Chorley - "Bomber Command Losses Vol 2",  Martin Middlebrook "Bomber Command War Diaries". The C.W.G.C.