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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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254 Squadron Crest
10.12.1941 No. 254 Squadron Blenheim IV V5801 QY-P W/Cdr. G.C. Bernard-Smith

Operation: Transit Flight

Date: 10th December 1941 (Wednesday)

Unit: No. 254 Squadron (Coastal Command)

Type: Blenheim IV

Serial: V5801

Code: QY-P

Base: RAF Aldergrove, Northern Ireland

Location: Dykend, near Glenisla, Forfar, Scotland

Pilot: W/Cmdr. George Christopher Bernard-Smith 16025 RAF(O) Age 40. Killed

Obs: Sgt. William Cecil Francis Harris 642560 RAF Age 20. Killed

W/Op/Air/Gnr: Sgt. Albert Stather 622756 RAF Age 25. Killed

Pax: Sgt. Thomas Keith Sinclair 550691 RAF Age ? Killed

Pax: LAC. Alfred Lovell 626261 RAF Age 20. Killed.

REASON FOR LOSS:

During a ferry flight to Dyce in Scotland (Now Aberdeen Airport) flew into high ground in cloud at Dykend (shown on map) catching fire - all crew and passengers were killed.

Above area of loss with insert: W/Cdr. Bernard-Smith (courtesy Sherborne School Archives) Below: Blenheim IV

Sherborne School, Dorset - Any further information that you are able to assist them with fallen former pupils from all wars, we would be pleased to pass onto them. 

Burial details:

W/Cmdr. George Christopher Bernard-Smith. Montrose Cemetery. (Sleepyhillock). Sec.7. Class C.. Grave 74. Further information courtesy Sherborne School Archives: Born in 1901. Son of Hubert Alphege Bernard and Mary Dennison Bernard-Smith of Wimborne, Dorset, husband of Doris Bernard Smith (née Algar), of Sheringham, Norfolk, England. Attended Sherborne School (School House) 1915-1919; member of the 1st XV rugby football team, 1919. Cranwell; RAF; retired as Flying Officer. Civil aviation. Re-entered RAF at outbreak of war.

Sgt. William Cecil Francis Harris. Montrose Cemetery. (Sleepyhillock). Sec.7. Class C.. Grave 70. Son of William George Francis Harris and Alice Maude Harris, of Westminster, London, England.

Sgt. Thomas Keith Sinclair. St. Ninians Parish Burial Ground (Bannockburn). Comp.B.7. Grave 35. Son of Alexander Sinclair, and of Jemina Sinclair, of Stirling, Scotland.

Sgt. Albert Stather. Fleetwood Borough Cemetery. Sec. H.C of E. Grave 48. Son of Frank and Ethel Stather, of Fleetwood, Lancashire, England.

LAC. Alfred Lovell. Stoke-On-Trent Cemetery (Burslem) Sec. B.S. Grave 91. Son of David Alfred and Ethel Lovell, of Birches Head, Stoke-on-Trent, England.

Researched and dedicated to the relatives of this crew with thanks to With thanks to Sherborne School Archives for additional information. Ross Mcneill - 'Coastal Command Losses’. Commonwealth War Graves Commission. Graham Warner - 'The Bristol Blenheim’. Aircrew Remembered own Archives.

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Acknowledgements
Sources used by us in compiling Archive Reports include: Bill Chorley - 'Bomber Command Losses Vols. 1-9, plus ongoing revisions', Dr. Theo E.W. Boiten and Mr. Roderick J. Mackenzie - 'Nightfighter War Diaries Vols. 1 and 2', Martin Middlebrook and Chris Everitt - 'Bomber Command War Diaries', Commonwealth War Graves Commission, Tom Kracker - Kracker Luftwaffe Archives, Michel Beckers, Major Fred Paradie (RCAF) and Captain François Dutil (RCAF) - Paradie Archive (on this site), Jean Schadskaje, Major Jack O'Connor USAF (Retd.), Robert Gretzyngier, Wojtek Matusiak, Waldemar Wójcik and Józef Zieliński - 'Ku Czci Połeglyçh Lotnikow 1939-1945', Andrew Mielnik: Archiwum - Polish Air Force Archive (on this site), Anna Krzystek, Tadeusz Krzystek - 'Polskie Siły Powietrzne w Wielkiej Brytanii', Franek Grabowski, Polish graves: https://niebieskaeskadra.pl/, PoW Museum Żagań, Norman L.R. Franks 'Fighter Command Losses', Stan D. Bishop, John A. Hey MBE, Gerrie Franken and Maco Cillessen - Losses of the US 8th and 9th Air Forces, Vols 1-6, Dr. Theo E.W. Boiton - Nachtjagd Combat Archives, Vols 1-13. Aircrew Remembered Databases and our own archives. We are grateful for the support and encouragement of CWGC, UK Imperial War Museum, Australian War Memorial, Australian National Archives, New Zealand National Archives, UK National Archives and Fold3 and countless dedicated friends and researchers across the world.
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