can you help denis deaves
----- Original Message -----
From: James Liskutin
To: airfields-uk-ireland@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Wednesday, March 21, 2007 12:35 PM
Subject: RE: [airfields-uk-ireland] information needed


Hi there. James Liskutin here (spitfireboy.com)

I have problems posting on the yahoogroups forum, so i am sending this to both
emails i have as a request. the yahoo groups email will likely bounce.

I have had a Lady,Gloria, contact me asking for information regarding family in
the RAF.

She has asked for help regarding links to research information. her case sounds
urgent so in lieu of this, I am asking others for their advice as this is how I
help in the best way possible really.

her main question is

What is the quickest way, if not what I have already requested from the FOI, to
find out if there are any such statements from the three surviving crew members
(either during or post war) of Halifax HX186?

can you give any pearls of wisdom?

her letter to me is below.

best wishes.. James Liskutin www.spitfireboy.com

............................................................


I have just despatched an email to the Defence 'Freedom of Information' site but
am not sure if there would have been an easier (and quicker) way to go about it.



My name is Gloria Sheehan and I live In Brisbane Australia. One of my uncles,
Flt Sgt David Charles Grant (426437 RAAF attached to RAF), was an air gunner on
Halifax bomber HX186 that left RAF Melbourne on the evening of 20th December
1943 with the target as Frankfurt, and never returned. Killed were my uncle,
Sgt W Borthwick (pilot), Sgt T Paling (w/op) and the second gunner Sgt
Rochecouste whose remains were the only ones recovered. Three others (Sgts
Baxter, Hayes and Kingham) were taken P's.O.W.



David has two remaining siblings, my mother and one brother who has spent his
lifetime trying to find out a more about where David actually died rather than
just 'over Germany'. He has recently been diagnosed with throat cancer so I am
making a concerted effort to try and get as much together as I can.



I know that it was a practice at that time for the International Red Cross to be
given access to P's.O.W. on both sides to gather statements that might
information regarding other killed or missing crewmen. What is the quickest
way, if not what I have already requested from the FOI, to find out if there are
any such statements from the three surviving crew members (either during or post
war) of Halifax HX186?



Any assistance you could give would be much appreciated.



Regards

Gloria







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