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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Air Gunner Sgt. Lesley Ernest James Davenport 964692 No.7 Squadron

The purpose of this page is to display various photographs in the hope that someone may come forward who are featured and perhaps would like to contribute further information, as well as receiving a copy.

Served at Electrical and Wireless School R.A.F. Yatesbury where some of these photographs are shown.

7 Squadron Aircrews, R.A.F. Oakington May, 1941:

        

All as left to right: Back Row: Sgt’s: Hay, Rogers, Neill, Nicholson, Ainge, Tooms, Speakman, Graham D.F.M. Wheatley, Dale, Clarke, Hardie, Lomas-Smith, Woods, Peters.

2nd Row: Sgt’s: Wynne, Smith, Merrels, Armstrong, Glenwright, Kenny, Clifton, Aston, Donelen, Fl/Sgt. Yardley, Nicholls, Graham, Bridges, Williams.

3rd Row: Sgt’s:  Kirkland, Davenport, Wallace, Rossiter, Cooke, Wallace, Bailie, Burrows, Chamberd, Austin, Sauge, Cole, Wood, Chapple, Taylor K.I.A.

4th Row: Fl/Sgt. Walker K.I.A., Sgt’s: Martin, Sgt. Edwards, Sgt. Whitwell, P/O. Balie, P/O. Brander, P/O. Blunden, F/O. Kinkane K.I.A., P/O. Levien, P/O. Worley, F/O. Hogg, P/O. Bolton K.I.A., Fl/Sgt. Watson, Fl/Sgt. Prentice.

Seated chairs: Fl/Sgt. Beasley, Fl/Lt. Mitchell, F/O. Harwright D.F.M., F/O. Sach D.F.C., P/O. Deyell D.F.M., F/O. Witt D.F.M., Fl/Lt. Collins, Sq/Ldr. Lynchblosse D.F.C., W/Cmdr. Graham, Sq/Ldr. Speare, Fl/Lt. Bristoww, Fl/Lt. Blacklock D.F.M. D.F.C., F/O. Oliver, Fl/Lt. Stock D.F.C., F/O. Austin, Fl/Lt. Saunders, Fl/Lt. Compton D.F.C., Fl/Sgt. Hignett

Seated floor: Sgt’s: Webb, Price, Clarke, Williams, Ryder, ‘Beauty’.

        

       

       

       

       

       

Survived an earlier bale out on the 14/15th July 1941 - Stirling I N6022 MG-D with F/O. Dennis Witt as the pilot.

Served in 7 Squadron - shot down in Stirling I N6046 MG-Y on an operation to Berlin 07/08th September 1941.

Imprisoned as a P.o.W. staying at the following:

Dulag Luft Frankfurt - interrogation - then:

Stalag 8B-Lamsdorf 15th September 1941 - leaving May 13th 1942

Stalag Luft 3-Sagan and Belaria 15th May 1942 - June 14th 1943

Stalag L6-Heydekrug 16th June 1943 - July 16th 1944

Stalag 357-Kopernikus, Thorne 18th July 1944 - August 9th 1944

Fallingbostel-11B/357 11th August 1944 - Liberation

A list of pow names he served with is shown on his Berlin operation page, although this may not be conclusive.

From the pages of the log book that belonged to pilot, F/O. Dennis T. Witt we can also see that the co-pilot, 23 year old P/O. Kenneth Oswald Blunden from Nottingham, was killed on the 25th August 1941. Flying Stirling I N6020 MG-B on an operation to Karlsruhe. All crew rest at Rheinberg Cemetery.

Another pilot is shown on another page, 24 year old Fl/Lt. Sidney George Matkin D.F.C. from Teddington, Middlesex. Killed on the 15th August 1943. Flying a Lancaster III JA850 MG-M on an operation to Milano. All crew killed and buried at Sassenay churchyard, France.

Sgt. Douglas Edward Coyle also killed, on the 29th September 1941, flying Stirling I W7433 MG-U on an operation to Stettin. Killed with all crew. 

A flight Engineer also identified from the log, 21 year old Sgt. Edward Blacklaw. Killed on the 17th January 1942. One of the many aircrew killed during training. Stirling I W7467 hit by Hurricane V6865 from 56 O.T.U. over Cambridge. All 8 crew killed as well as the Hurricane pilot.

Wireless Operator Air Gunner 23 year old Fl/Sgt. Alfred Penn from Toronto, Canada. Killed on the 29th August 1941 on an operation to Duisberg. Flying on Stirling I W7438. All crew of 7 killed and buried at Rheinberg Cemetery, Germany.

Air Gunner 20 year old Sgt. Kenneth Huntley from Pontypridd, Glamorgan, Wales. Killed on the 1st July 1941 on an operation to Borkum flying on Stirling I N6013. All 7 crew killed.

With thanks to Ian Davenport for photographs. Anyone who recognises anyone from this page are invited to contact us using the ‘Help Button’ 

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