Sergeant (Air Gnr) R/264171 John Derbyshire

Family details:
Son of Francis Derbyshire and of Ellen Derbyshire (nee Holden).

Census details:
1939 Register - Not identified.

Notes:
Burial took place on 18/10/1944

Lancaster PD227 took off from RAF Wootton Linconshire on October 12th 1944. There were 10 crew on this training flight as onboard there were 5 'guest' Air Gunners who were doing affiliation training. Took off from Kirmington with a crew of ten, including five air-gunners for fighter affiliation training. Tragically, a mid-air collision occured with Hurricane IIc LP390 of 1687 Flight, flown by W/O. N L. Pretlove and both aircraft crashed 1240 hrs about 1 mile east of Hemswell airfield, Lincolnshire. In the August of 1944 this Lancaster actually had a mid-air collision with another Lancaster from the same squadron, but managed to land safely with no losses. Sgt GW Cundick (Died) Sgt J Derbyshire (RCAF) (Died) Sgt J Fletcher (Died) Sgt H Lewis (Died) P/O LW McChesnie (RCAF) (Died) Sgt GR McWhirter (RCAF) (Died) Sgt CS Offord (Died) F/S DJ Rodgers (RCAF) (Died) F/O JR Stoneman (RCAF) (Died) F/S AR Williamson (Died) W/O. Pretlove was also killed in this incident. [pic]imgs/S1PWHYAOTV/R264171DerbyshireJ.jpg[/pic] [pic]imgs/S1PWHYAOTV/R264171DerbyshireJ2.jpg[/pic][caption]The headstone of Sergeant (Air Gnr) John Derbyshire at St Helens Cemetery (Photo courtesy of Jeff Keenan)[/caption]