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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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235 Squadron Crest
30.08.1940 No. 235 Squadron Blenheim IV L9262 P/O. Priestley

Operation: Training

Date: 30th August 1940 (Friday)

Unit: No. 235 Squadron 16 Group (Coastal Command)

Type: Blenheim IVF

Serial: L9262

Code: LA-?

Base: RAF Bircham Newton, Norfolk

Location: Barwick Farm, near Syderstone, Norfolk

Pilot: P/O. John Sinclair Piestley NZ/39934 RNZAF Age 27. Killed

W/Op/Air/Gnr: Sgt. Edward Arthur Graves 632826 RAFVR Age 21. Killed

REASON FOR LOSS:

Taking off in the morning to carry out practise circuit training when it spun in and crashed at location shown 11:15hrs.

Both the crew were killed.

Burial details:

P/O. John Sinclair Piestley. Great Bircham Churchyard (St. Mary). Plot 1. Row 1. Grave 9. Son of Josiah Oswald and Margaret Moore Priestley, of Plimmerton, Wellington, New Zealand. 156 Flying hours logged with just 20 on this type. Had completed 2 operational sorties.

Sgt. Edward Arthur Graves. Eastbourne Cemetery (Langney). Sec. D. Grave 875. Stepson of John H. and Mrs. Elizabeth E.H. Graves Pope of The Cottage, Langley Road, Langley, Eastbourne, England. On detachment from 22 Squadron also based at RAF Bircham Newton.

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

KTY 10.12.2018

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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 MWO 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', Archiwum - Polish Air Force Archive (on this site), Anna Krzystek, Tadeusz Krzystek - 'Polskie Siły Powietrzne w Wielkiej Brytanii', Franek Grabowski, 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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