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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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RN/FAA
25/26th September 1941 761 Squadron Fulmar II N4129 Sub/Lt. (A) Simmonds

Operation: Training

Date: 25/26th September 1941 (Thursday/Friday)

Unit: No. 761 Squadron RN/FAA

Type: Fulmar II

Serial: N4129

Code: ?

Base: HMS Heron, Yeovilton, Somerset

Location: West Camel, Somerset

Pilot: Sub/Lt. (A) Douglas Simmonds RNVR Age 24. Killed

REASON FOR LOSS:

Taking off on a night flying exercise.

During attempting to land spun in and crashed at location shown.

No further details established and we welcome further information.

Burial and personal details:

Sub/Lt. (A) Douglas Simmonds. Yeovilton Churchyard (St Bartholomew). Plot M. Grave 7. Born on the 10th October 1917 at Thames, North Island. A warehouseman for Sargood Son and Ewen Ltd of Auckland prior to service. Enlisted in the RN/FAA on the 09th August 1940. Embarked for England on the 11th August 1940 and attached to HMS St. Vincent arriving on the 30th September 1940. Pilots badge awarded and commissioned on the 02nd July 1941 after training with 1 Service Flying Training School. Son of William John and Lily Maria Anne Simmonds (nee Brownett, later Hill then Mrs. Coldcutt) of Maraetai Beach, Auckland, New Zealand.

Researched and dedicated to the relatives of this pilot with thanks to Jenifer Lemaire and to the extensive 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 01.06.2021

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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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