John Douglas Dadswell

Sergeant John Douglas Dadswell, Mid Upper Gunner, RAF

Status: KIA

Date of Birth:

Date of Death: March 16, 1944

Place of Birth: South Shields, Metropolitan Borough of South Tyneside, Tyne and Wear, England

Fellow Crew Members At Time Of Death:

Personal Information

John’s parents were Harry (1878) and Elizabeth Ann (1880) (nee Lake) Dadswell of South Shields. John was born in 1924 in South Shields. He came from a large family consisting of Ernest ‘Billy’ William, Harry, Ralph, Thomas, George, Alf, Horatio, Frank, David and Peggy.

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John Dadswell served in 625 Squadron RAF.

He lost his life on March 16, 1944 in Lancaster III ND637, having completed an operation to Stuttgart, Germany. He was only 19. His aircraft collided with Lancaster ED606 of 463 Squadron whilst flying in a circuit waiting to land. His Crew were Pilot P/O John Percy Bulger RCAF J/85931, Flight Engineer Sgt Alfred William Aiston RAF 1532964, Navigator W/O Gordon Ivey RCAF R/150959, Bomb Aimer F/O Robert Roy Jones RCAF J/25514, Wireless Op Sgt Dennis Hewitt RAF 1490563 and Rear Gunner Sgt Richard Janes Fettis RAF 1126142. John was the Mid Upper Gunner in the centre of the Lancaster.

The crew were posted to 625 Squadron on January 25th 1944 just days before they were killed.

The Shields Gazette on 21/3/1944: 'The parents of Sgt Air Gunner John Douglas Dadswell, Mr & Mrs Dadswell of 245 South Frederick Street, South Shields, have received official news that their son has died as a result of operations. Sgt Dadswell was 19 and had just been recommended for promotion to Flight Sergeant. Educated at South Shields Central School, and employed by South Shields Building Society before the war. When war broke out, he joined the South Shields ATC and became a sergeant before joining the RAF. He was the youngest of 10, 6 of whom are in the forces'.

Official Investigation RAF: 'Time of accident 03h05 near Waddington. Lancaster III ND637 was detailed for operations the 15/16th March 1944 - target Stuttgart. The aircraft took off from this aerodrome, but on the return journey it collided with another aircraft and burst into flames and crashed at 03h05, the location being 5308 degrees N 0027 degrees W. All the occupants were dead when extricated from the aircraft. Multiple injuries and instantaneous death. No technical failure involved'.

Extract from the Court of Inquiry into the accident involving Lancaster ED606 Conclusions: 'Lancaster ED606 of 463 Squadron while circling Wellington airfield preparatory to landing after an operational sortie, was in collision with Lancaster ND637 of 625 Squadron. ND637 was returning from an operational sortie. The collision occurred at 1,800ft and both aircraft were totally destroyed and all killed. Presumed failure of the pilots and crews of both aircraft to maintain an adequate lookout. Recommendations: Routes. The command route for the return from operations for the night 15/16th March was Selsey Bill - Reading - Base. This meant the aircraft of No. 1 Group, were in many cases bound to fly over the No. 5 Group airfields. It is therefore recommended that Groups should be given routes so as to avoid infringing other Groups areas whenever possible'.