BRISTOL MOTOR CRASH DEATH As announced in the ' Western Daily Press and Bristol Mirror' yesterday, motor 'bus ..
Suicide by strangling himself with a cord when the balance of his mind was disturbed.
Luis Fontes joined the Air Transport Auxiliary as a civilian ferry pilot soon after its formation in 1940 and became a First Officer. Aged only 27, he died on 12th October 1940 ferrying Vickers Wellington Mk IC, R1156, which stalled after an engine failed while circling RAF Llandow, Glamorgan, and crashed in nearby Llysworney village.
Llandow accommodated No. 38 Maintenance Unit (an Aircraft Storage Unit) and Fontes was either delivering this new Chester-built Wellington for storage there or to an RAF Squadron after modifications.
According a Polish source he was killed by a direct hit on the RIALTO cinema during the bombardment of Coventry. Krzemiński Franciszek and Cebula Edward were killed in the same cinema as well.
But the Central and East Region Air Training Corps is stating: Three of the polish airman buried in Baginton Cemetery; Aircraftman 2nd Class Edward Cebula 24, Aircraftman 2nd Class Josef Jurkowski 20 and Aircraftman 1st Class Franciszek Krzeminski 31, all died as a result of enemy action on the 14th November 1940, the night of the air raid that destroyed much of Coventry city centre.
On November 15, 1940, Gauze took part in the 605th Squadron of the RAF for patrolling. It was his 13th start, counting combat and operational tasks. Canterbury's pilots clashed with about 50 enemy planes heading north. When the Hurricanes were noticed, the Germans turned south. At the same time, another group of Messerschmitts 109 reached the area. The 605 RAF Squadron was trapped between the II./JG 53 and Stab / JG 26 fighters. Gauze and Sgt Kenneth H. Jones were shot down. The Pole died at the controls of Hurricane I (V6951), who crashed in the sea.
Dated November 18, a Christmas card has been received at the Young Men's Institute, Buxton, from Leading Aircraftman Walter Harby (28). Dale Road, Buxton, who was killed in a motor accident in Southern Rhodesia during November (sic). .
Last edited by paulmcmillan; 2nd January 2019 at 08:40.
A VERDICT of'Death by misadventure was recorded by the ..