Date: 24th June 1943
Unit: No. 75 Squadron
Type: Stirling III
Serial: EH902
Coded: AA-K
Location: Wissenkerke, off the Dutch island of Beveland.
Pilot: P/O. Norman Bradford Bluck 40364 R.N.Z.A.F. Age; 22, Killed
Fl/Eng: Sgt. John William Gillard 938834 R.A.F.V.R. Age; 24, Killed
Obs: Fl/Sgt. James Brett Cooksey 416460 R.N.Z.A.F. Age; 23, Killed
W/Op: Fl/Sgt. Geoffrey Walter Strong 413905 R.N.Z.A.F. Age; 31, Killed
W/Op/Air/Gnr: Sgt. Michael Kendlan 1072258 R.A.F.V.R. Age; ?, Killed
Air/Gnr: Sgt. Douglas Armitage 1434609 R.A.F.V.R. Age; 19, Killed
Air/Gnr: Sgt. Lesley Ronald Cant 1397680 R.A.F.V.R. Age; ?, Killed
REASON FOR LOSS:
Toof off at 23.23 hrs from Newmarket, Suffolk. Shot down either by flak or by a night fighter and crashed into the sea off Wissenkerke on the Dutch island of Beveland.
Further research currently being undertaken.
Left: P/O. Norman Bradford Bluck, Right: Fl/Sgt. James Brett Cooksey
Burial details:
P/O. Norman Bradford Bluck 40364 R.N.Z.A.F. Flushing (vlissingen) Northern Cemetery Row F. Grave 12
Son of Walter Bradford & Eileen Maud (nee Atchison) of Otorohanga, Auckland, New Zealand.
Sgt. John William Gillard 938834 R.A.F.V.R Bergen-Op-Zoom War Cemetery Grave 4.C.7.
Son of Joseph and Clara Ann of Great Bridge, Tipton, Staffordshire
Fl/Sgt. James Brett Cooksey 416460 R.N.Z.A.F. Bergen-Op-Zoom War Cemetery Grave 14.C.1.
Son of Thomas Brett Farmer & Annie Ellizabeth (nee Ball) of Mangawhare, Auckland, New Zealand.
Fl/Sgt. Geoffrey Walter Strong 413905 R.N.Z.A.F. Flushing (vlissingen) Northern Cemetery Row F. Grave 13
Son of Arthur John and Grace Rubena of Christchurch, Canterbury, New Zealand.
Sgt. Michael Kendlan 1072258 R.A.F.V.R. Bergen-Op-Zoom War Cemetery Grave 7.AA.6
Age; 23, Son of Mary Ann of West Hartlepool, Co. Durham, England.
Sgt. Douglas Armitage 1434609 R.A.F.V.R. Flushing (vlissingen) Northern Cemetery Row F. Grave 14
Son of Ellis and Edith of Wakefield, Yorkshire.
Sgt. Lesley Ronald Cant 1397680 R.A.F.V.R. Flushing (vlissingen) Northern Cemetery Row F. Grave 7
Son of William Charles and Mary Ann of Bermondsey, London.
With thanks to the following: Bill Chorley - "Bomber Command Losses Vol 3", Martin Middlebrook "Bomber Command War Diaries". The C.W.G.C.
