The Airmen's Stories - Sgt. H W Walmsley

Harold William Walmsley, from Blackpool, was born in early 1916, the son of Jack Walmsley and Martha Walmsley (nee McCaffery).

He joined the RAFVR in August 1939 as an Airman u/t Observer. Called up on 1st September 1939, he completed his training and went to 1(C) OTU Silloth in early June 1940. He was then posted to 248 Squadron on the 25th.

On 13th December 1940 Walmsley's Blenheim R3625 took off from Sumburgh to deploy to Wick for operations. Climbing out after takeoff it struck Blenheim L9455 and both aircraft fell into the sea.

Both aircraft were also carrying groundcrew and all ten men were lost.

Walmsley is commemorated on the Runnymede memorial, panel 20.

Those lost were:

L9455

P/O AH Pettet
Sgt. A Hook
P/O JD Dodd
LAC LSJ Bright
AC1 AEH Moore

R3625

Sgt. JS Hamilton
Sgt. JH May
AC1 S Julian
AC1 GW Monks

Above image courtesy of Dean Sumner.