2 Tactical Air Force (2TAF) 98 Squadron RAF Missing Presumed Killed

During the first nine months of World War II 98 Squadron served as a reserve squadron and from April–June 1940 was based at Nantes, France, though it flew no combat missions. Evacuated back to England during the Battle of France, the Squadron lost 90 of its personnel when the ship RMS Lancastria was bombed and sunk off Saint-Nazaire on 17 June 1940.

After re-assembling at Gatwick in July 1940, the Squadron was attached to Coastal Command and stationed at Kaldadarnes, Iceland for coastal patrol and anti-submarine duties. The Squadron supplemented its Battles with a few Hawker Hurricane fighter aircraft in June 1940 but was disbanded on 15 July 1941 passing its aircraft to the newly established No. 1523 Flight.

No. 98 Squadron reformed on 12 September 1942 at RAF West Raynham as a bomber squadron of 2 Group, flying the North American Mitchell II. Relocating to Foulsham in mid-October, the Squadron continued training on the Mitchell, being declared operational on 8 December 1942, at first flying Air Sea Rescue (ASR) missions. On 22 January 1943 the Squadron made its first attack on the enemy, when six Mitchells from 98 Squadron and six from No. 180 Squadron (also flying its first combat mission, with an escort of Mustang fighters from 169 Squadron, attacked oil installations at Terneuzen, Belgium. One 98 Squadron Mitchell was shot down by German anti-aircraft fire while two of 180 Squadron's aircraft together with two 169 Squadron Mustangs were shot down by Focke-Wulf Fw 190 fighters. Following this inauspicious debut, 98 Squadron returned to ASR missions while modifications were made to the Mitchell's defensive gun turrets, the Squadron returning to combat on 13 May when six aircraft attacked railway marshalling yards at Boulogne. In August 1943 the Squadron moved to Dunsfold to take part in pre-invasion attacks on Northern France and on V1 flying bomb launching sites in the Pas-de-Calais. After the Normandy landings the Squadron operated in close support of the advancing Allied armies, and from October 1944 was based at Melsbroek near Brussels, Belgium, moving to Achmer, near Osnabrück, Germany, just days prior to VE Day.

Personnel Posted as Missing Whilst Operating in 2TAF

Ac2 Applin, E.C.S. RAF 906916 98B 17/06/1940 Runnymede Panel 26

Sgt. Ardern, W. RAF 581488 98B 17/06/1940 Runnymede Panel 11

Ac2 Ashard, E.F. RAF 907022 98B 17/06/1940 Runnymede Panel 26

Lac Barrie, G.W. RAF 547360 98B 17/06/1940 Runnymede Panel 22

Lac Bateman, G. RAF 525546 98B 17/06/1940 Runnymede Panel 22

Ac2 Bellamy, C.V. RAF 947377 98B 17/06/1940 Runnymede Panel 26

Ac1 Blackett, G. RAF 954766 98B 17/06/1940 Runnymede Panel 24

Lac Blackwell, F.J. RAF 935698 98B 17/06/1940 Runnymede Panel 22

Ac2 Bott, K.V. RAF 913271 98B 17/06/1940 Runnymede Panel 26

Ac2 Brown, D. RAF 627081 98B 17/06/1940 Runnymede Panel 26

Ac2 Brown, G.O. RAF 943513 98B 17/06/1940 Runnymede Panel 26

Ac2 Brunton, J. RAF 946579 98B 17/06/1940 Runnymede Panel 26

Ac2 Burrows, H. RAF 973456 98B 17/06/1940 Runnymede Panel 26

Cpl. Cartwright, J. RAF 510279 98B 17/06/1940 Runnymede Panel 21

Ac1 Clarke, D.B. RAF 640028 98B 17/06/1940 Runnymede Panel 25

Lac Clarke, S. RAF 518910 98B 17/06/1940 Runnymede Panel 22

Cpl. Cook, A.C. RAF 532979 98B 17/06/1940 Runnymede Panel 21

Ac1 Cooper, J.W. RAF 633627 98B 17/06/1940 Runnymede Panel 25

Cpl. Cox, T.H. RAF 937864 98B 17/06/1940 not in CWGC database

Lac Cross, R.A.R. RAF 900352 98B 17/06/1940 Runnymede Panel 22

Cpl. Daniel, H. RAF 568835 98B 17/06/1940 Runnymede Panel 21

Sgt. Denton , T.F. RAF 509566 98B 17/06/1940 Runnymede Panel 13

Ac2 Dignan, G.A. RAF 619976 98B 17/06/1940 Runnymede Panel 26

Lac Dowding, J.H. RAF 751081 98B 17/06/1940 Runnymede Panel 22

Lac Fisher, H. RAF 551310 98B 17/06/1940 Runnymede Panel 23

Ac1 Fitzpatrick, T. RAF 629004 98B 17/06/1940 Runnymede Panel 25

Ac2 Garside, C. RAF 978500 98B 17/06/1940 Runnymede Panel 26

Ac1 Gavin, P. RAF 637128 98B 17/06/1940 Runnymede Panel 25

Lac Gleave, W. RAF 623072 98B 17/06/1940 Runnymede Panel 23

Cpl. Gordon, F.L. RAF 511338 98B 17/06/1940 Runnymede Panel 21

Ac2 Greenman, W.J. RAF 977406 98B 17/06/1940 Runnymede Panel 26

Ac2 Griffin, K.W. RAF 626117 98B 17/06/1940 Runnymede Panel 26

Ac1 Groves , G.E. RAF 569713 98B 17/06/1940 Runnymede Panel 25

Ac1 Harpham, W. RAF 623494 98B 17/06/1940 Runnymede Panel 25

Sgt. Harris, S.L. RAF 751759 98B 17/06/1940 Runnymede Panel 15

Ac2 Hill, A. RAF 908668 98B 17/06/1940 Runnymede Panel 27

Ac2 Hills, G.G.S. RAF 631309 98B 17/06/1940 Runnymede Panel 15

Ac2 Hodgetts, A.H.J. RAF 908944 98B 17/06/1940 Runnymede Panel 27

Sgt. Hynes, F.J. RAF 581391 98B 17/06/1940 Not in CWGC database No Known Grave

Lac Ingraham, I. RAF 521686 98B 17/06/1940 Runnymede Panel 23

Lac Jones, C.P. RAF 536553 98B 17/06/1940 Runnymede Panel 16

Lac Jones, D.W. RAF 533484 98B 17/06/1940 Runnymede Panel 23

Cpl. Jones, T.D. RAF 528052 98B 17/06/1940 Runnymede Panel 22

Cpl. King, G.R. RAF 564874 98B 17/06/1940 Runnymede Panel 22

Ac2 Kirk, William Henry. RAF 974666 98B 17/06/1940 CWGC: See Patrick Joseph Kirk, the true family name (?) CWGC: on Runnymede, no panel number given

Lac Latter, G.A. RAF 571314 98B 17/06/1940 Runnymede Panel 23

Ac2 Lunt, H. RAF 909562 98B 17/06/1940 Runnymede Panel 27

Lac MacPherson, W. RAF 642192 98B 17/06/1940 Runnymede Panel 23

Ac2 Martin, W.W. RAF 913127 98B 17/06/1940 Runnymede Panel 27

Ac2 McFarlane, J. RAF 975628 98B 17/06/1940 Runnymede Panel 27

Ac1 McLeod, H.G. RAF 613055 98B 17/06/1940 Runnymede Panel 25

Lac McNaughton, N. RAF 749340 98B 17/06/1940 Runnymede Panel 23

Cpl. Park, A. RAF 526717 98B 17/06/1940 Runnymede Panel 22

Ac2 Pearson, H.V. RAF 947539 98B 17/06/1940 Runnymede Panel 27

Ac2 Peters, J.E. RAF 900985 98B 17/06/1940 Runnymede Panel 27

Ac1 Plumb, E.G. RAF 615972 98B 17/06/1940 Runnymede Panel 25

Ac1 Pugh, W. RAF 542863 98B 17/06/1940 Runnymede Panel 25

Ac1 Radford, W.E. RAF 618627 98B 17/06/1940 Runnymede Panel 25

Ac2 Ranson, M.W.J. RAF 621890 98B 17/06/1940 Runnymede Panel 27

Ac2 Reading, G. RAF 908528 98B 17/06/1940 Runnymede Panel 27

Ac2 Redfern, L. RAF 644120 98B 17/06/1940 Runnymede Panel 27

Lac Riddell, R. RAF 615860 98B 17/06/1940 Runnymede Panel 24

Cpl. Rigby, G.A. RAF 532880 98B 17/06/1940 Runnymede Panel 22

Ac1 Robinson, H. RAF 625691 98B 17/06/1940 Runnymede Panel 26

Ac1 Rogers, J. RAF 591650 98B 17/06/1940 Runnymede Panel 26

Cpl. Roxborough, J. RAF 937857 98B 17/06/1940 Runnymede Panel 22

Ac2 Ruck, G. RAF 907056 98B 17/06/1940 Runnymede Panel 27

Ac2 Scott–Kiddie, A.J. RAF 628742 98B 17/06/1940 Runnymede Panel 27

Ac2 Sibborn, J.A. RAF 702682 98B 17/06/1940 Runnymede Panel 27

Ac1 Slater, C.F. RAF 631548 98B 17/06/1940 Runnymede Panel 26

Ac1 Small, W.L. RAF 612896 98B 17/06/1940 Runnymede Panel 26

Ac2 Smith, F.H. RAF 626102 98B 17/06/1940 Runnymede Panel 27

Lac Stocker, F. RAF 935588 98B 17/06/1940 Runnymede Panel 24

Ac1 Stones, D. RAF 628640 98B 17/06/1940 Runnymede Panel 26

Ac1 Symmonds, A.L. RAF 628702 98B 17/06/1940 Runnymede Panel 26

Lac Taws, S. RAF 614845 98B 17/06/1940 Runnymede Panel 24

Ac2 Timms, C. RAF 573560 98B 17/06/1940 Runnymede Panel 27

Lac Waite, J.A. RAF 524140 98B 17/06/1940 Runnymede Panel 24

Lac Whitmarsh, K.R. RAF 742095 98B 17/06/1940 Runnymede Panel 24

Lac Williamson, W.J. RAF 532511 98B 17/06/1940 Runnymede Panel 24

Ac1 Wilson, F.J. RAF 636044 98B 17/06/1940 Runnymede Panel 26

Ac2 Wright, J.N. RAF 908737 98B 17/06/1940 Runnymede Panel 27

Ac2 Wyatt, K.L. RAF 640245 98B 17/06/1940 Runnymede Panel 27

F/O. Lindsey, D.W. RNZAF 422570 98B 20/03/1944 Runnymede Panel 262

W/O. Allen, J.E. RCAF R/162368 98B 13/04/1944 Runnymede Panel 254

F/Lt. Cullen, K.E. RCAF J/9198 98B 13/04/1944 Runnymede Panel 244

P/O. Dunn, G.R. RCAF J/87712 98B 13/04/1944 Runnymede Panel 250

F/Sgt. Johnson, J.A. RAF 1540657 98B 30/07/1944 not in CWGC database El Alamein Memorial (?)

F/Sgt. Moulden, Harry Hillary RAF 1576390 98B 30/07/1944 El Alamein Memorial Colomn 280

F/Lt. Ajrekar , L.S. RAF 125917 98B 19/08/1944 Runnymede Panel 201

F/Lt. Mewa, A. RNZAF 414320 98B 19/08/1944 Runnymede Panel 262

W/O. Nicholls, A.E. RAF 968037 98B 19/08/1944 Runnymede Panel 214

W/O. Pitt, F.F. RAF 630113 98B 19/08/1944 Runnymede Panel 203

F/O. Marlow, K. RAF 168825 98B 12/09/1944 Runnymede Panel 207

F/Sgt. Tams, R. RAF 1579030 98B 12/09/1944 Runnymede Panel 222

F/Lt. Carter, C.B. RAF 132348 98B DFC DFM 25/09/1944 Runnymede Panel 201

W. O. Richards, S.E. RAAF 415550 98B 06/02/1945 Runnymede Panel 284

Sgt. Ward, J. RAF 2222501 98B 06/02/1945 Runnymede Panel 277

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