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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.

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.