No.1331434, Sergeant, (WOP/Air Gnr) Leslie Charles CORNWELL
Aged 26
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Leslie Cornwell was born in 1917 in Cockfield, (1st qtr 1917 Cosford 4a:1481) son of William Charles and Beatrice Mary OORNWELL (née OFFORD).
His father was a horseman on farm, born Pymore, Cambs, his mother was Cockfield born. His sister Geraldine Blanche was born in Cockfield in 1920. Educated at Cockfield School whilst resident at Great Green before leaving Cockfield in 1926. He married Kathleen POGSON(b.1923) in Basford, Nottinghamshire in 2nd qtr 1943. Her address with CWGC was Westville, Hucknall, Notts. later marrying Albert JACOBS in Basford. So far identified none of them in the 1939 register |
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221 Squadron RAF reformed on 21 November 1940 as a general reconnaissance unit at Bircham Newton equipped with Wellingtons. Operations in
the form of convoy escorts began in February 1941 and anti-shipping operations began in March but in May the squadron transferred to
Limavady in Northern Ireland, where it began anti-submarine patrols. In September it moved to Iceland, returning to Docking at the end of
the year. At the beginning of 1942, it was off again, this time to the Middle East. Until the squadron's ground echelon arrived the its aircraft and crews operated with No 47 Squadron. From March 1942 until March 1943 the squadron operated from bases in North Africa, conducting anti-submarine patrols, shipping reconnaissance missions and shipping strikes. During this period it began using Leigh Lights to carry out nights attacks against shipping and submarines and specialised in night torpedo attacks. However, from May 1943, the quantity of targets declined and it began to bomb enemy ports but by September 1943 even this had ended and the squadron was mainly involved in anti-submarine patrols. Vickers Wellington Mk XIII, ser no JA363 LN-385 failed to return to RAF Luqa, Malta from convoy escort duties on 30th December 1943. It transpired it had crashed in Italy, near Avellino, killing all the crew. This was possibly after collision with another Wellington as the wreckage of another Wellington was found nearby. The crew were:- Capt/Pilot- W.O Richard O'Neill (RAAF), Sgt Raymond Stripe (pilot, Flt Sgt Colin Wilson (RAAF) (nav.)and 3 Wireless Op/Air Gunners, Sgt Leslie Cornwell, Sgt John Fake and Sgt Henry Hewitt.
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