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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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49 Squadron Crest
25/26.08.1940 No. 49 Squadron Hampden P4416 EA-L P/O. Fawcett

Operation: Berlin

Date: 25/26th August 1940 (Sunday/Monday)

Unit: No. 49 Squadron 5 Group

Type: Hampden I

Serial: P4416

Code: EA-L

Base: RAF Scampton, Lincolnshire

Location: Lost without trace

Pilot: P/O. Nicoll Brian Fawcett 41005 RAF Age 20. Missing - believed killed

Obs: Sgt. James Cunningham Clarke 743056 743056 RAVR Age 30. Missing - believed killed

W/Op/Air/Gnr: Sgt. John Baker 751839 RAFVR Age 20. Missing - believed killed

Air/Gnr: AC1. Gordon Reay 626591 RAF Age 19. Missing - believed killed

REASON FOR LOSS:

Following the attacks by the Luftwaffe on London and other cities, Bomber Command with the approval of the War Cabinet, struck for the first time on the German capital.

Taking off late evening for the target which was described as the limit for the range of the Hampden. During the return trip many of the bombers were lost through lack of fuel due to strong head winds.

It is thought likely to have ditched in the North Sea. No trace of the crew or aircraft.

Burial details:

P/O. Nicoll Brian Fawcett. Runnymede Memorial. Panel 8. Born on the 15th September 1919 in Fielding, the son of Francis Peter and Freda Charlotte Fawcett (née Fenton), of Feilding, New Zealand. Prior to service worked for S.A. Wren Solicitors as a law clerk. A total of 485 flying hours logged and on his 22 operational sortie.

Sgt. James Cunningham Clarke. Runnymede Memorial. Panel 12. Son of James S. and Mary L. Clarke, of Glasgow; husband of Margaret Ogg Clarke (nee Browning), of Glasgow, Scotland.

Sgt. John Baker. Runnymede Memorial. Panel 11. Son of William Edward and Ivorine Ethel May Baker, of Lewes, Sussex, England.

AC1. Gordon Reay. Runnymede Memorial. Panel 25. Son of William and Kathleen Reay.

Researched and dedicated to the relatives of this crew with thanks to the research by Errol Martyn and his publications: “For Your Tomorrow Vols. 1-3”, Auckland Library Heritage Collection, Weekly News of New Zealand, other sources as quoted below:

KTY 31.10.2019

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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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