THE relatives of a York airman who died in a Second World War bomber crash are being urged to come forward after a memorial was set up to the crew.
Sergeant Peter Edward James Jenkins, who is buried at Fulford Cemetery, was one of seven crew members who all died when their Stirling bomber crashed in Devon while returning from a mission in August 1942.
Dave Richardson, the nephew of one of Sergeant Jenkins’s crewmates, Lawrence Nicholson, said he wanted to contact Peter’s relatives to let them know that residents from one the villages near where he crashed, Lutton, had recently put up a granite memorial to the crew.
He said: “The only official information I have, from the Commonwealth War Graves Commission, is that Peter’s parents were William Henry and Olive Jenkins, of Bootham, York.
“I’ve had a look at a genealogical website which suggests that Peter was one of six children, so there may be some descendants still living in the York area.
“I’m trying to contact Peter’s family so they know about the memorial but also to see if they have anything to add to the story from their own family records, photographs, etc.”
He said Sergeant Jenkins, who died aged 22, seemed to have joined 149 Squadron based at Lakenheath, Suffolk, in about May 1942. Sergeant Jenkins flew 21 missions to some of the most dangerous targets in Europe, including Cologne, Essen and Bremen.
Mr Richardson said: “The crew’s final mission was dropping mines off the west coast of France.
“Their Stirling bomber, R9329 coded OJ-V, encountered heavy enemy anti-aircraft fire over the target and was, it is believed, badly damaged. “The pilot, Geoffrey Robertson, managed to bring the aircraft back to England, but in appalling weather conditions the crew got lost over the Devon coast and crashed into high ground.
The RAF salvage crew carved a cross into the trunk of a nearby tree as a mark of respect of the aircrew who were all killed in the crash.
“Remarkably, this cross can still be seen today.”
• Relatives of Sergeant Jenkins are being asked to contact Mr Richardson by emailing hayburn@hayburn.karoo.co.uk
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