RAF Personnel Management Agency,
RAF Innsworth,
Gloucester,GL3 1EZ
Mr P D Clarke
Our Reference: PMA/133157/1/13/CS1
23 April 1999
Dear Mr Clarke,
Further to your letter dated 12 April 1999, I am writing to inform you that I have now located the original casualty file* into the accident in which your father, Sergeant C J Clarke, lost his life on 30 April 1941. From the information contained on the file, I am able to provide you with some further details into the incident which are as follows;
Sergeant Clarke (744913) was serving at RAF Bassingbourn and, on 30 April 1941, he was one of six crew members on board Wellington T2905. The aircraft took off from RAF Bassingbourn at 2140 hours on a night operational training flight and was carrying eight practice bombs. The flight included a leg from Andover to Sharpness and it was during this leg that the port wing of the aircraft struck a balloon barrage cable at approximately 2000 feet. The aircraft crashed at St Andrews Park, Bristol killing three members of the crew. The remaining three members of the crew were seriously injured in the crash.
A full copy of your father's service record can be obtained by writing to PMA(CS)2a(2)(RAF), Room 5, Personnel Management Agency, HQ PTC, RAF Innsworth, Gloucester GLJ lEZ. There is a small charge for the provision of a service record.
You may wish to be aware that your father is commemorated in the Royal Air Force Book of Remembrance in Volume 3, Page 38 which is held at St Clement Danes Church, Strand, London WC2R 1DR. Should you wish to visit St Clement Danes Church in order to view the Books of Remembrance, it is advisable to make arrangements beforehand with the Verger , Mr Brian Poag, who can be contacted on (0171 ) 242 8282. I hope this information wilt help to answer any questions you may have surrounding the circumstances of your father's death. Should you require any further information or clarification, please do not hesitate to contact me.
Yours sincerely
Pauline A. Collings (Mrs)
PMA(CS)lb(2)
For Air Secretary