J/6007 Flying Officer Ernest Franklyn Paige, Distinguished Flying Cross.
Pilot
The Royal Canadian Air Force
422 Squadron
Aged 27.
Son of Ernest B. Paige and Elva E. Paige, of Bridgeport, Kitchener, Ontario, Canada.
Fiance of Helen C. Hexamer, of Homewood Avenue, Kitchener, Ontario, Canada,
A "Flying Boat", a Short S.25. Sunderland Mark 111, No. DD 846 of 422 Squadron, was based at RAF Oban, Argyll & Bute, Scotland, from where it took off on 24th May 1943.
It was under instruction to terminate the flight at RAF Castle Archdale, on Lough Erne, Co. Fermanagh. This would enable it to extend its range and time over the North Atlantic.
It had a max. range of 2,800km, and a max take-off weight of 28,300kg, which enabled it to carry 10,600kg of fuel together with defensive and offensive munitions, including bombs and depth charges.
Mission duration varied between 8-14 hours.
The aircraft's purpose was to protect Atlantic convoys from submarine attack, and to seek out submarines on the surface at night charging their batteries, using early radar detection. The extra "wireless operators" on board would have used this radar equipment.
The aircraft was returning from a patrol mission over the North Atlantic, when it crashed into the sea off Clare Island, Clew Bay, Co. Mayo, at about 03.15 on 25 May 1943. All eleven members of the crew died, but only seven bodies were recovered.
Paige, Clarke, Hopps & Briers are buried at
Irvinestown Church of Ireland Churchyard
O'Dowd, Richardson & Sherwood are buried in England.
The bodies of Hird, Purvis, Thompson & Rowe were not recovered, and they are commemorated on
The Runnymede Memorial
The crew comprised,
Ernest Franklyn Paige
Captain / First Pilot.
James William Clarke
Second Pilot.
William George Hopps
Third Pilot.
Wallace Roy Thompson
Navigator
James Hird
Flight Engineer
Donahan Anthony O'Dowd
Flight Engineer.
John Rowe
Wireless Operator Mechanic / Air Gunner.
Derek Harold Richardson
Wireless Operator / Air Gunner.
David Purvis
Wireless Operator / Air Gunner.
Robert Bruce Bryers
Air Gunner.
Ronald Sherwood
Air Gunner.
Thought to be buried in Esh Winning, Co. Durham, England.
For further information, see the well researched article, by Dennis Burke
[ Find A Grave Contributor Dennis Burke ]
Sunderland Crash, Clare Island
J/6007 Flying Officer Ernest Franklyn Paige, Distinguished Flying Cross.
Pilot
The Royal Canadian Air Force
422 Squadron
Aged 27.
Son of Ernest B. Paige and Elva E. Paige, of Bridgeport, Kitchener, Ontario, Canada.
Fiance of Helen C. Hexamer, of Homewood Avenue, Kitchener, Ontario, Canada,
A "Flying Boat", a Short S.25. Sunderland Mark 111, No. DD 846 of 422 Squadron, was based at RAF Oban, Argyll & Bute, Scotland, from where it took off on 24th May 1943.
It was under instruction to terminate the flight at RAF Castle Archdale, on Lough Erne, Co. Fermanagh. This would enable it to extend its range and time over the North Atlantic.
It had a max. range of 2,800km, and a max take-off weight of 28,300kg, which enabled it to carry 10,600kg of fuel together with defensive and offensive munitions, including bombs and depth charges.
Mission duration varied between 8-14 hours.
The aircraft's purpose was to protect Atlantic convoys from submarine attack, and to seek out submarines on the surface at night charging their batteries, using early radar detection. The extra "wireless operators" on board would have used this radar equipment.
The aircraft was returning from a patrol mission over the North Atlantic, when it crashed into the sea off Clare Island, Clew Bay, Co. Mayo, at about 03.15 on 25 May 1943. All eleven members of the crew died, but only seven bodies were recovered.
Paige, Clarke, Hopps & Briers are buried at
Irvinestown Church of Ireland Churchyard
O'Dowd, Richardson & Sherwood are buried in England.
The bodies of Hird, Purvis, Thompson & Rowe were not recovered, and they are commemorated on
The Runnymede Memorial
The crew comprised,
Ernest Franklyn Paige
Captain / First Pilot.
James William Clarke
Second Pilot.
William George Hopps
Third Pilot.
Wallace Roy Thompson
Navigator
James Hird
Flight Engineer
Donahan Anthony O'Dowd
Flight Engineer.
John Rowe
Wireless Operator Mechanic / Air Gunner.
Derek Harold Richardson
Wireless Operator / Air Gunner.
David Purvis
Wireless Operator / Air Gunner.
Robert Bruce Bryers
Air Gunner.
Ronald Sherwood
Air Gunner.
Thought to be buried in Esh Winning, Co. Durham, England.
For further information, see the well researched article, by Dennis Burke
[ Find A Grave Contributor Dennis Burke ]
Sunderland Crash, Clare Island
Inscription
Crest of The Royal Canadian Airforce
Flying Officer
E. F. PAIGE, D.F.C.
Pilot
Royal Canadian Air Force
25th May 1943 age 27
+
god will provide
for sacrifice
Gravesite Details
The north-facing headstone is very worn, and the inscription is almost illegible.
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