No.579194, Flight Sergeant, Russell James BRIDGEMAN
Aged 34
Technical Training Command Communications Flight, Royal Air Force
Died in Air Accident on Monday, 20th February 1961 (the date is wrong on the memorial)
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Russell James Bridgeman was born in Burwell on 27th December 1926 (Newmarket Q1-1927 3B:660) son of Ernest and Ada F BRIDGEMAN (née TAYLOR) of
Martin's Road, Burwell.
Educated at Soham Grammar School, he joined the R.A.F. as a boy entrant. He had worked at one time in the R.A.F. Recruiting Centre in Manchester. He married Hetty FYNES of Enfield Road, Swinton. Technical Training Command Communications Flight - Avro Anson C19 ser. no. VL312 from RAF Wyton, Huntingdonshire was bound for Jurby on the Isle of Man en route to R.A.F. Aldergrove in N. Ireland on February 20th 1961 when it crashed in fog into North Barrule mountain. It was in communication with the tower within three minutes of touch down when the radio went dead. Search parties, in thick fog, found the wreckage and bodies two hours later. Also killed were Wing Commander J.L. Aron; Squadron Leader C.Heseltine; Flight Lieutenant B.H. Miller; Flight Lieutenant H.D.Furness and Master Technician E.N. Robinson. They hit about 1,480 feet above sea level, on to the 2,000 feet mountain. All six aboard were killed and recovered to Ramsey, Isle of Man before being returned to the mainland for burial. They were:- Wing Commnader J.L. Aron; Squadron Leader C. Heseltine; Flt Lieutenant H.D. Furness; Flight Lieutenant B.H. Miller; Master Technician E.N. Robinson and Flight Sergeant R.J. Bridgeman. |
Soham Grammar School photo from 1937...as a young airman... pilot
Russell Bridgeman is buried in Swinton Cemetery, Salford, section A, grave EX.3347
and commemorated on the Soham Grammar School Roll of Honour.
click here to go to the Veterans UK website for full cemetery/memorial details
The CWGC warrant only covers the two world wars