Operation: Fighter Sweep

Date: 26th April 1941 (Saturday)

Unit: 242 (Fighter) Squadron

Type: Hurricane IIa

Serial: Z2666

Code: LE:?

Base: RAF Stapleford Tawney

Location: Between Chartham and Chilham, Kent, England.

Pilot: Sgt. Arthur (Kenneth) James Vaughan 916680 RAFVR Age 41. Killed

The circumstances leading to the loss of Sgt. Vaughan are unclear and the reason that he was buried at Southease has not been established. Aircrew Remembered would like to appeal to any relative to contact us as the village where he is buried as the only WW2 grave would like to honour him on Remembrance days.

REASON FOR LOSS:

On the day in question Sgt. Vaughan was one of twelve Hurricanes from the Squadron on a fighter sweep. The Squadron Operations Order Book did not report any 'incidents' during the sortie. The sortie summary only reported that Sgt. Vaughan force landed through lack of fuel.

He crashed between Chartham and Chicham at 13.20 hours. Sgt. Vaughan was taken to Chartham Military Hospital where he sadly succumbed to his injuries at 17.45 that the same evening.

John Foreman's Air War 1941: The Turning Point (part 2) (Air Britain), p.115 (entry for 26 Apr 41) Sgt Vaughan's 242 Squadron aircraft was hit in the fuel tanks by Lt. Tonne and, half way across the Channel, his engine cut.

Lt. Wolfgang Tonne of JG53 , a Luftwaffe multi ace with 122 victories by the time he was killed in a flying accident on the 20th April 1943 in Tunisia.

The Combat & Casualties, RAF Fighter Command, 1941 January to December reports that Sgt. Vaughan was Killed in Action during a fighter Sweep and that Bf 190s were encountered over Dungeness.

To date it has not been possible to confirm either of the two scenarios described above.

242 Squadron Hurricanes (archive)

Sgt. Arthur James Vaughan. Southease Churchyard, Lewes, East Sussex. Born 4th April 1900 in England. Son of Gwynneth Powys Vaughan. His father is not recorded. His mother predeceased him in October 1922. Husband to Christine (née Littlebury) Vaughan from White Gates, Brighten, Sussex.

The 1939 Register lists Arthur J. Vaughan living in "White Gates" 8 Oaklands Avenue, in Brighton, Sussex, with his wife Christine and 12 year old son Michael P. Vaughan (born 29th December 1927). There are a further two entries related to this property which are officially closed. His occupation was listed as 'Estate Agent'.

Arthur James Vaughan was married to Christine Littlebury on the 23rd September, 1925, Cathedral of St George, Cape of Good Hope, South Africa. Christine Littlebury, possibly born in Colchester, Essex, 26th September, 1902, daughter of Charlotte May Littlebury, otherwise Mary Charlotte Littlebury and unknown father. (Marriage information provided by John Simmons, Oct 2015)

Researched for relatives of the pilot and the village where he is buried. With thanks to Gerald Millard for bringing this loss to our attention and to the following for further information, Flight Global. Narrative updated by Aircrew Remembered (Feb 2021)

At the going down of the sun, and in the morning we will remember them. - Laurence Binyon
All site material (except as noted elsewhere) is owned or managed by Aircrew Remembered and should not be used without prior permission.
© Aircrew Remembered 2012 - 2024 Last Modified: 14 March 2021, 09:32