My grandfather's brother was Flight Sergeant (Navigator) Frank Robinson. He was in 622 squadron and he was killed on 20 September 1944 when his aircraft collided with another aircraft (or so we understand) near Earls Colne in Essex. I understand that 622 squadron were based at RAF Mildenhall at the time so presumably they had taken off or were returning there?
I am researching our family tree and would like to learn more about his movements during the war, and about the circumstances of his death. I have a newspaper article from the time, but all it says is that there was an 'accident'.
I'd be grateful for any information you could give me, or any advice about obtaining information.
Lancaster I LM 167 GI-N took off from base at Mildenhall on a training exercise as formation leader and was lost as it collided with another 622 Squadron Lancaster(Lancaster I LL 802 GI-M) piloted by F/O C.James RAFVR
Entered cloud and both collided,crashing at 1605 at Wormingford,6 miles NW of Colchester,Essex.
The missions your great uncle flew on will be recorded in the Squadron's Operational Record book. These can be obtained from the National Archive at Kew or you could try contacting the 622 Squadron Association historian, Howard Sandall and ask what information he has. Howard's contact details can be found here: http://www.mildenhallregister.stirlingpilot.org.uk/Milden6.htm
To find out more about his RAF career, when he enlisted, where he served, his training etc.' you need to send for a copy of his service record (There will be a cost of £30 and a rather long wait for the information I'm afraid) from here:
Thank you so much for your help. It's nice to know more about what happened. You've given me lots more information to work with! I really appreciate it.
Thank you so much for your help too. I managed to find out where he was buried from the the Roll of Honour (Lincolnshire) website. I didn't know that there was a photograph of it though!
I am the 622 Sqdn Historian and I have a lot of information regarding your granfather's crash on 20th Sept 1944 including a lot of material within my book that is due for release in the summer.
I would be delighted to share the information with you.
I was hoping that you would respond, my book is released in the USA and out here on 1st October. I have quite a bit of uinformation to share with you perhaps due to the amount you would be better responding to me via my personal email : enroute62@aol.com
I should have logged in first, as previously mentioned I have a lot of information to share, perhaps to much via the forum, can you contact me on my home email: enroute62@aol.com.
I also have an interest in the 622 Squadron accident in September 1944, as my Mum's first husband was Claude (Roy) James, the pilot of LL802. There seem to be two stories about the incident - one says it was a training accident, the other verson says the collision occured when the plane was returning from a raid. Do you have any information that can definitely confirm what happened?
The incident was definitely an accident which occurred due to low cloud conditions and the squadron flying in close formation. I have all the records for the crash and several eye witness accounts in my book including my uncle's who was sitting in the reare turret of a Lancaster and witnessed the whole event.
Is there any chance you can drop me an email on enroute62@aol.com, I am not sure how to attached photos or documents in this format.
book:"Hell On Earth",by Mel Rolfe,edited by Grub Street,pages 133-134...They were going on a bombing mission to Calais in a formation of 3,among other 600...more details there...Good luck!
there was something interesting about a girl,so called..."the chop blonde"...misterious and superstitious...every body steered away from her,but they didn't...
I'd love to pull together a detailed summary of my Grandfather's service some day soon, so I can pass it down to our next generation and share the stories of our personal family hero.
Hi there I would Like to find out the Plane my grandfather was on GI ? ?????
His Name is Harry Clive Edgar Thurston , RNZAF - Flying Officer , Navigator ... here is the site my father made. http://en.ww2awards.com/person/48565
I am designing a template for War Thunder game, worlds top flight sim . I have made The Captains fancy JN-M and now I am trying to gain information on a particual plane from 622 or 7th that my grandfather flew in, and hopefully gain information like if there was any nose art etc...