Grave of James Tales. Flight Sergeant. No. 755804.

A Brave Man. A Forgotten Grave.

RAF Flight Sergeant James Tales, of South Benfleet, Essex., was one of seven crew aboard a Lancaster Bomber that had taken off from Woodhall Spa in Lincolnshire, on 14 July 1942.  Shortly after, the aircraft crashed into the sea off the Norfolk coast killing six of the crew instantly and one who died later that same day.  A lifeboat recovered five bodies of crew members from the sea.  The bodies of two others have never been found. 

THE CREW.

JOHN THOMAS BLEASE.  Service No. 405221.
Rank.  Flying Officer.  Pilot. 
Service.  Royal New Zealand Air Force.
Age.  24. 
Grave Ref.  Great Bircham (St. Mary) Churchyard.  Norfolk.

CECIL GORDON LEITCH.  Service No. 571775.  (Body never found).
Rank.  Sergeant. 
Age.  20. 
Service.  Royal Air Force.
Memorial.  Runnymede Memorial.  Surrey.

LLEWELLYN ALFRED DAVIES.  Service No. 401304.
Rank.  Flying Officer. 
Service.  Royal Australian Air Force.
Age. 33.
Grave Ref.  Great Bircham (St. Mary) Churchyard.  Norfolk.

ALLAN JEREMIAH McPHEE.  Service No. R/75116.
Rank.  Flight Sergeant (Air Gunner).
Service.  Royal Canadian Air Force.
Age.  23.
Grave Ref.  Great Bircham (St. Mary) Churchyard.  Norfolk.

JAMES TALES .  Service No. 755804.
Rank.  Flight Sergeant.  Wireless Operator.  Air Gunner.
Service.  Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve.
Age.  21.
Grave Ref.  West Mersea Barfield Road Burial Ground.  Essex.

BRYN EARNSHAW.  Service No. 1057318.  (Body never found).
Rank.  Sergeant.
Service.  Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve.
Age.  22.
Memorial Ref.  Runnymede Memorial.  Surrey.

LESLIE ROBINSON.  Service No. 1128848.
Rank.  Sergeant.  Air Gunner.
Service.  Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve.
Age.  19.
Grave Ref.  Ashton-Under-Lyne.  Hurst Cemetery.  Manchester.

 

Grave of Flight Sergeant James Tales and his mother Norah Agnes Tales
Ronnie Pigram
Grave Headstone of Flight Sergeant James Tales and his mother Norah Agnes Tales
Ronnie Pigram

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