107 Squadron loss Oct 1942

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Member for

20 years 9 months

Posts: 17

First I want to thank everyone that posts here for the many, many interesting threads and photos. I used to think that I knew a fair bit but I now realise that I don't :o

Now on to my request...
I am trying to find more info on the death of a distant relation, RAFVR Sergeant (Nav) Ronald Tebbutt #1254448. CWGC shows him killed 31 October 1942 while with 107 Squadron and buried at Adegem Canadian War Cemetery, Maldegem, Oost-Vlaanderen, Belgium. From searching the web I think he must have been flying in a Boston III coded 'OM' from Gt Massingham and killed during a low-level raid on French power stations. Can anyone confirm this or add more details (serial, code, location, etc) or point me at a website?

Thank you in advance.
Best regards,
Paul aka PalmTree1

Original post

Member for

15 years 10 months

Posts: 35

88 Sqn Boston III Z2179 RH- Op: Pont-au-Vendin

F/0 H P Collings +
Sgt R Tebbut +
Sgt S W Nash +
Sgt F R Pickering +

T/o 1127 Great Massingham borrowed by 107 Squadron. Shot down by Lt Paul Galland, 8./JG26 flying a Fw 190, and crashed 1230 between Jonkershove and Houthulst (West Vlaanderen), Belgium. All were buried at Woumen, but in 1961 their remains were exhumed and taken to the Canadian War Cemetery at Adegem.

Note. A full account of this loss is given in 'Vermist Boven Vlaanderen" by Dirk Decuypere. Lt Paul Galland, the younger brother of Generalmajor Adolf Galland, was killed some five hours later when his Fw 190 was shot down the English Channel.

Source Bomber Command Losses 1942 Volume 3 WR Chorley

Member for

20 years 9 months

Posts: 17

Nicks,

Many thanks, even more info than I had hoped for. ;)

Regards,
Paul

Member for

14 years 2 months

Posts: 1

NPB12

Interested to read your request for information on 107 Sqd Loss Oct 1942
and of your relation Sgt Ronald Tebbutt,My Grt Uncle was the WOP/AG on
this flight his name was Sgt Francis Rex Pickering and the other crew were
Sgt Stanley Walter Nash and the Pilot P/O Henry Philimon Collings.

I have over some years done extensive research into what happend that
Saturday morning in 1942.and have built up a huge amount of information
on 107 Sqd Operations.I got know through correspondence General Galland
who's brother Paul shotdown Z2179.General Galland sent me his brothers
service records which are in German.Boston Z2179 was Paul Galland's 17th
Kill and his last,he was himself killed later the same day being shotdown over
the Channel by a Spitfire

I have also been in touch with the farmer who's land the aircraft
crashed on and he gave me an eyewitness account of the action that day
also he told that one of the crew was alive after the crash but died soon
afterwards.he also sent me a photo of him and his wife holding a boot which
when I gave him my uncles service number confirmed it to be his.
also through his help,the town hall at Woumen sent me the crews death Certificates issued on that day.

As you say the crew were originally buried at Woumen but in 1961 they were
transferred to the Canadian War Cemtery at Adegem.this was because that
the road at Woumen near the cemetery was widened my family recieved a
letter about that time confirming this.

I have been in touch with many former 107 Sqd crew who knew my uncle
and was also in touch with Stan Nash's sister Flo,until her death some years
ago and also know his niece Lola and we have exchanged many documents
on each other's respective uncles.

The Pilot Harry Collings was originally from Wales but lived in London before
joining the RAFVR,one of his friends again who sadly died a few years ago
was Flt Lt George Turner DFC. he told about Harry and infact was on the op
to Pont-a-Vendon on Oct 31st.Both he and Harry Collings were trained in
USA,he told that Harry was an excellent Pilot and his loss that day he felt
for many years afterwards.

As you may know the operation was launched from RAF Great Massingham
in Norfolk were 107 Sqd was then based.infact some years ago I like many
others who lossed relatives helped a local nun named Sister Lawrence who
was a wonderful lady compile a Memorial Book to all crews who were lossed
while on operations from Great Massingham,this book I believe is now kept
in the local church and can be consulted your relation will be in this.

Sgt Tebbutt I have been trying to find out facts about him for sometime
and I think that he was from Luton or near there but thats all I know about
him.I think I have a photo of him taken at Massingham with other crews in
early 1942.

Anyway I hope this gives you some further facts on your relation.

Member for

14 years 10 months

Posts: 174

NPB12: You're right about Tebbutt being from Luton.
His CWGC entry:
Name: TEBBUTT, RONALD
Initials: R
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Sergeant (Nav.)
Regiment/Service: Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
Unit Text: 107 Sqdn.
Age: 32
Date of Death: 31/10/1942
Service No: 1254448
Additional information: Son of Vince and Martha Ann Tebbutt; husband of Ida Tebbutt, of Luton, Bedfordshire.
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: VI. AA. 8.
Cemetery: ADEGEM CANADIAN WAR CEMETERY

Member for

20 years 9 months

Posts: 17

Hello NBP12,

Thank you for the additional information. It looks as though Sgt Tebbutt's wife Ida was living at Luton at the time but I believe he was born at Leighton Buzzard, or at least within that registration district. I am in contact with several closer relations including a niece of his but she was only just 1 year old when he died. I will give you my e-mail via private message so we can continue this without boring the fine folks here with genealogy.

Regards,
Paul aka PalmTree1