Operation: Abbéville, France

Date: 21st April 1943 (Wednesday)

Unit No: 21 Squadron, 2 Group, Bomber Command

Type: Ventura I

Serial: AE743

Code: YH:?

Base: RAF Oulton, Norfolk, England

Location: English Channel

Pilot: Fg Off. Geoffrey Brian Chippendale 127842 RAFVR Age 22. KiA

Nav: Flt Sgt. Harry Hudson 998980 RAFVR Age 34. KiA

WOp/Air Gnr: Plt Off. Arthur William Richmond 145332 RAFVR Age 32. KiA

Air Gnr: Sgt. James Neil Kelsall 1544208 RAFVR Age 21. KiA (1)

Update: May 2017 - the brother of the pilot made contact with us, we hope that further information follows.

On the 21st April 1943 eleven (11) aircraft from the Sqn were detailed to undertake a daylight operation on the railway marshalling yards at Abbéville in Northern France.

Above: 21 Squadron Ventura I

This was always going to be a very difficult and heavily defended target as it was only a few miles from the main Luftwaffe airfield at Abbévillle.

AE743 was seen going down into the sea with its tail section having been shot off. The aircraft was also seen on the surface of the sea, but without sign of any survivors.

The other aircraft from the squadron lost:

Ventura I AE692 - Sgt. Ronald Herbert Wells 1331819 RAFVR and his crew were KiA;
Ventura II AE913 - Fg Off. Gerald Lambert Hicks 104530 RAFVR and his crew were KiA.

(1) James Neil Kelsall joined the RAF in 1942 and was trained as an Air Gunner at 10 Air Observers School at RAF Dumfries in Scotland. He had been posted to 21 Squadron flying the Lockheed Ventura, a rather outdated American light bomber aircraft.

Above: Sgt. James N. Kelsall

He and his fellow crew members apparently became very close. His pilot, Fg Off. Chippendale from Blackburn, Lancashire, had only been recently married and had invited his crew, Sgt. James Kelsall, Flt Sgt. Harry Hudson and Plt Off. Arthur Richmond to the wedding.

Above: Medals and telegram for Sgt. Kelsall.

Burial details:

Above: Abbeville Communal Cemetery (Courtesy of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission)

Above: Grave marker for Fg Off. Geoffrey Brian Chippendale (Courtesy of Len - FindAGrave)

Fg Off. Geoffrey Brian Chippendale. Abbeville Communal Cemetery Extension, Plot 6. Row A. Coll. grave 5-8. Grave Inscription: ‘THEY SHALL GROW NOT OLD, AGE SHALL NOT WEARY THEM, WE WILL REMEMBER THEM’.Born in the 1st Qtr of 1921 in Blackburn, Lancashire. Son of Arthur and Winifred Ethel (née Stevenson) Chippendale of Guarlford, Worcestershire. Husband to Edna M. (née Barton) Chippendale of Darwen, Lancashire, England.

Above: Grave marker for Flt Sgt. Harry Hudson (Courtesy of Len - FindAGrave)

Flt Sgt. Harry Hudson. Abbeville Communal Cemetery Extension, Plot 6. Row A. Coll. grave 5-8. Grave Inscription: ‘NOT JUST TO-DAY BUT EVERY DAY, REMEMBERED. HIS LOVING MOTHER AND DAD’.Born on the 30th July 1909 in Great Harwood, Lancashire. Son of George Ernest and Ellen (née McKenzie) Hudson of Clitheroe, Lancashire, England.

Above: Grave marker for Plt Off. Arthur William Richmond (Courtesy of Len - FindAGrave)

Plt Off. Arthur William Richmond. Abbeville Communal Cemetery Extension, Plot 6. Row A. Coll. grave 5-8. Grave Inscription: ‘IN LOVING MEMORY OF BILL BELOVED HUSBAND OF VIOLET. LOVE'S LAST GIFT, REMEMBRANCE’. Son of M. Richmond and Florence Richmond. Husband of Violet (née Steel) Richmond of York, Yorkshire West Riding, England.

Above: Grave marker for Sgt. James Neil Kelsall (Courtesy of Len - FindAGrave)

Sgt. James Neil Kelsall. Abbeville Communal Cemetery Extension, Plot 6. Row A. Coll. grave 5-8. Born in the 4th Qtr of 1921 in Stockport, Greater Manchester. Son of James and Mary Ellen (née Cotterill) Kelsall of Cheadle Hulme, Cheshire, England.

Researched by Michel Beckers for Aircrew Remembered. Photographs from Michel Beckers collection (Nov 2015). Reviewed and updated by Aircrew Remembered (May 2025).

Other sources listed below:

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