No.3006443, F/Sgt (Air Gunner), Frederick HOWE
Aged 19
his medal awards are not known
R.A.F.V.R., No 81 Operational Training Unit
Killed on Active Service in Air Accident on Sunday, 3rd June 1945
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Frederick Howe was born in Soham on 14th August 1925,(Newmarket Q4-1925 3B:660), baptised in Soham on 11th September 1925, son of Ellis James and Florence Alice
HOWE (née SIZER).His father was a smallholder, of Clay Street, Soham
In the 1939 register, a horseman on farm, he was at 10 Julius Martin Lane, Soham, were his father Ellis J [17-10-1897] market gardener; his mother Florence A [28-3-1900]; brothers Ellis J H [7-5-1922] horseman on farm, Donald T [20-11-1929] and sister Irene M [29-7-1923] landworker, later PRYKE. No closed records His elder brother, Ellis James Herbert Howe, was born in Soham, in May 1922 and enlisted in the Coldstream Guards in December 1941. Originally drafted for service in the Middle East, he joined the 2nd Battalion in Italy in August 1943, and was wounded by a grenade on 22 October 1944, prior to his M.M.- winning exploits - he received the ribbon of his decoration from Major-General J. Y. Whitfield, C.O. 56 (London) Division, at a ceremony held at Boriano in June 1945. |
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He was killed whilst flying in Wellington X, LP906 of No 81 OTU, which collided with Halifax, NA702. 81 Operational Training Unit ( call sign JB-* ) was stationed at RAF Tilstock, near Whitchurch, Shropshire and then, on 1 January 1944, transferred to 38 Group to train glider tug crews. At the end of January 1944 it moved a few miles to RAF Sleap near Wem, Shropshire, with administration and maintenance remaining at Tilstock. In January, 1945 Sleap returned to its former role as an OTU but now with Wellington bombers. Wellington Mk X, ser.no.LP906 from RAF Sleap on a night cross country exercise, collided near Werrington, (Peterborough), with Halifax NA702 from RAF Matching (Operational Refresher Training Unit near Harlow, Essex) Crew who died were F/Sgt A.G.Collins RAFVR - pilot; F/O E.Francis RAFVR-navigator; F/Sgt F.Howe RAFVR-Air Gunner; Sgt A.J.Perry RAFVR-Air Bomber. Frederick's death was registered in Peterborough, and he was buried in Soham Cemetery on 9th June 1945. |
Vickers Wellington Mk X
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