Missing in Action 2

[ronmanley]

Hello

Continuing with my search for this 'Missing In Action Crew', from 1945 Can you help find relatives of these people.

John Herbert McDowall - 2nd Pilot FAMILY LOCATED & CONTACTED
Born: Oct-Nov-Dec 1923
Location: Prestwich, Lancashire, England

Father: Norman Herbert McDowall
Born: June 1896
Location: Manchester, Lancashire, England
Death: 1950 Manchester, Lancashire, England

Mother: Doris Mabel Rhyddero
Born: 8 May 1896
Location: Chorlton upon Medlock, Lancashire, England
Death: Oct – Nov – Dec 1980

Harold Emerson - Navigator FAMILY LOCATED & CONTACTED
Born: 1922
Location: Unknown

Father: John Wilson
Mother: Eva Emerson
Location:Camberwell, London

Hugh Campbell - Wireless Operator FAMILY LOCATED & CONTACTED
Born: 1912

Father: Hugh Campbell
Mother: Elizabeth Campbell,
Location: Belfast, Northern Ireland

Harold Wynne - Mid Upper Gunner FAMILY LOCATED & CONTACTED
Born: 1922

Father: Edwin Wynne
Mother: Florence Wynne
Location: Bedford

Ieuan 'Anthony' Morgan - Bomb Aimer FAMILY LOCATED & CONTACTED


Please bear in mind we have all the relevant military details, what we are looking for is relatives.

PLEASE NOTE

As this is a very sensitive and emotional project and to spare the feelings of any living relatives we might find from upset and stress, please post any details you find and think they are the living relatives, to me as a private message.

We will then make contact with them.

Thank you all for your help over the last week with Ieuan Anthony Morgan, and look forward to hearing from you with regard his crew mates.

Best Regards - Ron

 

[ianto73]

Ron, my point is not part of your quest, however, when going through all the information regarding those that lost their lives when HMT Lancastria sunk in 1940, apparently the CWG state that ALL persons that lost their lives during WWII are either in a CWG grave or listed on a memorial somewhere - the latter part must refer to all those with no known grave and could be anywhere. I've often wondered since just how many families received the original "Missing in Action" letter which was never followed by the when/where and how letters.
Good luck in your quest.


Brian

 

[ronmanley]

Hello Brian

Yes that's correct, the CWGC list all those names 'Missing in Action' on a memorial.

The particular crew are listed on the Singapore memorial, with the exception of one who was captured and become a POW and was murdered three months later after the Japanese had announced their surrender. He is now buried in a war cemetery in India.

I suspect there are hundreds if not thousands of families worldwide who have never heard anything else of their loved ones.

In this case the Air Ministry delivered three separate letters to the next of kin.
1 - Missing In Action presumed Killed
2 - Known grave, inaccessible to recover
3 - No known grave.

During re-occupation in 1945 the grave was located and marked with a concrete plinth and cross together with a marble plaque listing the crew names. That paper trail from India to London has disappear over the years, or is locked deep in an archive, that nobody has found officially as yet.

65 years later the grave is still officially unknown and the crew still listed as 'Missing in Action'.

All the best - Ron

 

[DaveHam9]

Hello Ron,

What other ways have you tried to find someone who knows of these families? Because of the time frame it's very difficult through the usual family history research methods to find such people.

We can only hope that someone see this post and can help you in this matter.

Regards,

Dave

 

[ronmanley]

Hello Dave

It's been very difficult up to now, and very time consuming.

I work with an American college, and we have posted notices, press releases have been sent to various newspapers, but they seem very reluctant to print the story. Which is surprising at it's a great Human Interest Story.

Contacts have been made with the Royal British Legion, Royal Air Force Associations, RAF Squadron Associations. Searches on WW2 memorials in the various locations. Phone calls to matching surnames, in the hope our men are somehow related. Scrolling through thousands of surname matched family trees, post's on various forum's have been extremely helpful.

It's been a long haul.

But we will get there in the end. Unfortunately time is now against some of the nearest next of kin. So for Matt and I - 'Time is of the Essence', to get closure for them.

I can only thank the user's and moderators on this forum for all their help and continued support.

Best Regards - Ron

 

[DaveHam9]

Hello Ron,

That sounds as though it's all been covered. Apart from giving the newspapers another go I can't think of anything that will help.

Some of the members here might be able to add something. We seem to have lost some of the more senior researchers during the year. Not sure if they have changed sites or just taking a break or what.

I hope a breakthrough comes your way soon.

Regards,

Dave

 

[ronmanley]

Thanks for that Dave

We will keep our fingers crossed

Ron