The Airmen's Stories - P/O C F Cardnell

Charles Frederick Cardnell was born on 11th August 1917 in St. Pancras, London to Charles Fletcher Cardnell and his second wife Margaret Millen, his first wife having died in 1896.

His father's occupation was shown as a Relieving Officer, involved in administering what was then called Public Assistance (formerly Poor Relief) which was designed to help the poverty-stricken.

Charles Senior was a prominent Mason, he died in 1936 and Charles Junior is recorded then as living with his mother in Cissbury Ring North, Finchley, London.

He joined the RAFVR in November 1938 as an Airman u/t Pilot and was called up on 1st September 1939. After completing his training he was commissioned and went to 5 OTU on 10th June 1940. He joined 23 Squadron at Collyweston on the 23rd.

Flying a night patrol on 8th August, Cardnell's Blenheim L1448 crashed near Peterborough from an unknown cause but believed to be temporary loss of control (report below).

He and his gunner, Sgt. C Stephens, were both killed.

Cardnell was 22. He is buried in Highgate Cemetery, London.

Additional research courtesy of Rod Cardnell.