Failed to Return
Sgt K A Essex and Crew
Sgt Essex and crew were posted to 550 Sqdn from No. 1 L.F.S. Hemswell on 10.4.44:
- Sgt K A Essex (P) KIA
- Sgt A W McWhirter (F/Eng) KIA
- F/Sgt F J W Smith (Nav) KIA
- F/Sgt R E Porter (A/B) KIA
- Sgt A Symonds (W/Op) KIA
- Sgt P L McIver (MU/AG) KIA
- Sgt R E Muffett (R/AG) KIA
Lancaster LM319 was being flown by the Sgt Essex crew when it was lost on 21/22 May 1944 on operations to Duisburg. This was the crew's sixth operation since joining 550 Sqdn in April.
The entry on the 550 Squadron Roll of Honour is available here.
Other information about the flight and the target available here.
All seven members of the crew were killed and are buried in Reichswald Forest War Cemetery (Germany).
The following images are all from Collections at The Yorkshire Air Museum, Elvington (received via Paul Markham posting on "RAF Bomber Command Crews and Aircraft Pictures" Facebook page). Sgt Essex (P), Sgt McWhirter (F/Eng) and F/Sgt Porter (A/B) and have been identified in the two group pictures; the others remain unidentified.
 |
3rd from left Sgt McWhirter (F/Eng). Right Sgt Essex (P)
It is unclear what the X indicates in the context of this image. |
 |
2nd from left Sgt McWhirter (F/Eng), 4th from left Sgt Essex (P), far right F/Sgt Porter (A/B)
Possibly the platform of what appears to be a branch line railway station. Perhaps the crew off on a day out with the seventh member of the crew taking the photo? |
 |
Sgt Andrew Whitelaw McWhirter, Flight Engineer (just 19 years old) |
 |
Sgt McWhirter's original grave marker |