Cheshire Airmen Killed in WW1

Cheshire Airmen killed during the Great War

(not at Hooton Park).

ARMSTRONG, J

2Lt 120 Squadron RFC

27.3.1918      Killed while flying Armstrong Whitworth FK3 A1505 from Cramlington.

Buried :           Chester General Cemetery (Chester 28).

Armstrong Whitworth FK3 A1505 was one of a batch of 50 made by Hewlett and Blondeau Ltd, Leagrove, Luton

RAHILL, Peter Joseph

Lt 5^th Battalion Cheshire Regiment attached Artillery and Infantry Co-operation School RAF

2.6.1918         Killed while flying RE8 A3895 aged 21.

Son of Captain James Joseph Rahill and Mrs M Rahill, 34 Gladstone Road, Chester.

Buried :           Chester General Cemetery (Chester 28)

RE8 A3895 was built by D Napier & Son at Acton.

VICKERS, Stephen  Wynne

8=14.4.1918 MC

21.5.1918      Pilot of A6482, 101 Squadron, took off at 9:55 am for a 1 hour 20 minutes flight to Bray to bomb roads from 4 500 feet. Observer Lt R J Hook (8 Rifle Brigade attached – first time over lines). Dropped 3 x 112 lb bombs, used 2 Lewis drums.

Took off again at 12:30 pm to bomb targets again. Same observer, same bomb load and Lewis gun ammunition used.

3.6.1918         DFC (Gaz)

Captain 101 Squadron RAF

18.2.1919      Died of influenza.

Buried :           St Thomas’, Norbury (Cheshire 59).

Notes :            C Flight, 77 (HD) Squadron, New Haggerton.

                        33 (HD) Squadron, Kirton-in-Lindsay.

WATCHORN, Claude Edward

2Lt 131 Squadron RAF

17.6.1918      Died of injuries received the day before when flying as a passenger in RE8 D4985, aged 20. 2Lt A G McGillvray, the pilot, died on 16.6.1918 and is also buried in Cheshire 86. Flying from Shawbury.

Son of George E Watchorn and Juliana Watchorn, 1232-15^th Avenue West, Calgary, Alberta, Canada.

Born :              Merrickville, Ontario.

Buried :           All Saints, Siddington (Chesire 86)

RE8 D4985 was one of a batch of forty aircraft rebuilt at No. 3 (Western) Aircraft Repair Depot and allocated a new serial number.