Flt Lt Colin PACKHAM, RAF, 50Sqd, 1918

[np-sheffield]

Hello all,

We are trying to shed some light on the service of my Great Uncle Colin. We were all brought up with family tales about heroic Uncle Colin who served in the RAF and was shot down, landing in a tree and surviving.

We have recently secured his service record from PRO at Kew, and have proven that he was indeed a flyer in the RAF flying a variety of aircraft. it also proves that something catastrophic happened to him whilst serving with 50 squadron at Bekesbourne in September 1918, for he is suddenly transferred to the Northern General Hospital for about two months and then to an officers convalescent home at Blackpool until discharged unfit for service.

What we dont have of course is any detail about what happend to him and his injuries. Is there anyone prepared to steer us in the right direction?

Neil Parkin

[Graeme]

Neil

The entry in the London Gazette for 30 May 1919 reads:

The undermentioned Lts. relinquish their comms. on account of ill-health, and are permitted to retain their rank : —
C. Packham. 14th May 1919.

No 50 Squadron was equipped with Camels, but there is no note of an "incident" in "The Camel File" and the wording in the Gazette suggests that this might have been because of the Spanish Influenza that was sweeping Europe at the time, rather than the result of a crash.

Graeme

[np-sheffield]

Hi Graeme and thanks for this.

We know that he fell on hard times after the war. Eventually he got a job with the railways, but never really recovered from his illness/injuries and sadly died around the age of 30 from pneumonia.

Have you any idea if the medical records might still exist, or indeed the squadron diary that might finally prove or disprove the story of the crash?

Kind regards

Neil Parkin

[Graeme]

Hi Neil

It's possible that your great-uncle's crash may have happened at some point in his pilot training or even took place before February 1918 when the squadron got its Camels - do you have any indication of when this incident took place?

Casualty reports and surviving squadron records will be at the National Archives (PRO) - an on-line search should give you an idea of what's available The National Archives of the United Kingdom

Graeme

[np-sheffield]

Thanks so much for the snippets of info. As to Colins service, from his service record we can tell he went first to Denham, (6 Squadron?) presumably for training, on 15/08/1917, then he was transferred to Rochford with 50 Sqd on 08/02/1918. There is a reference to his flying experience being, "Avro, Sopworth Pup, BE2E, 42C, BE12, BE12B". The next references to his movements go...

50 Sqd 188 (N)TS on 28/09/1918
50 Sqd R.D (we've been told this is 'repair depot') on 29/10/1918, (note then says) 'On ceasing instruction in Av.'

The next reference is on 22/11/1918, which says '3rd Northen Gen Hosp' and 'Officer pool'.

The next reference is on 23/11/1918, which says 'Kings Lancs Mil Conv Hospital, Blackpool'. There is then a final reference prior to demob which is hard to make out but I think says to RAF Blanford from hospital on 04/04/1919

Something else I noticed is that his station is at Rochford and not Bekesbourne. We'd made an assumption as that is where 50 Sqd were. Do you know anything about Rochford?

Its really very kind of you to help me. Any further help is most appreciated.

Neil

[np-sheffield]

We have managed to secure my Great Uncles Casualty Card from Hendon. It shows two incidents.

In March 1918 he is shown as having a concussion, reduced to light duties and given 4 weeks leave. This was during his training and we guess could have been a particularly heavy landing or perhaps something on ground duties.

On 16th September though, he is shown as Unfit for 8 weeks suffering gunshot wounds. This entry suggests 'flying to be graduated under medical supervision'. It is this incident that appears to be the one that is the famed 'shooting-down'. Sadly for my Great Uncle he didnt recover well, and was eventually parked up at the RAF in the Strand until released from his commission and demob in May 1919.

Sadly there are no further details of his precise injuries or the circumstances. Does anyone have an idea of where I might go next to find squadron records for 50 Squadron?

Neil

[AndyK]

Hi Neil

I met with your great uncle in the 1970s, at his home in Sheffield. He was kind enough to talk to me about his experiences, and I still retain some photographs and the information about his career that I gleaned from that meeting.

He did serve with 50 Sqn. However operationally he flew the SE5A, not the Camel. He told me that he did fly Camels, but unfortunately his log book was stolen/ lost while he was in hospital in 1918 - so I don't have any details. Sad - as I've developed over the years into a pretty serious Camel Nut! I'll have to look out my notes from all those years ago to get the fine detail, but the story he told me was that he was shot down by our AA one night, whilst stalking a Gotha. His aircraft caught fire at 13,000 ft - and he dived! The fire went out, but he was somewhat short on control. The result was an "uncontrolled landing" - at speed. His lap belt broke, and he was catapulted out of the cockpit. This undoubtedly saved his life - but unfortunately he made contact with the rear of the Lewis gun on his way out. When I met with him, many years later, he had a deep depression almost in the middle of his forehead - a reminder of that night in 1918! He was in hospital for some time, and didn't fly again. He told me that as a result of his injury he was unable to continue with his pre-war training as an engineer, so he worked for most of his life as a carpenter - a tradesman. I met his son at the same time (a WW2 Lancaster pilot?) who was I think quite disappointed that my interest was in his father's career, and not his

I've got a few photographs that Colin was kind enough to lend me from his album for copying - of which (if you don't have the album) you're more than welcome to copies.

I'll be back in touch when I've retrieved my notes from that evening.

Cheers!

Andy Kemp

[np-sheffield]

Hi Andy,

I've sent a message through the site, but you may read this first.

I'd love to get the information. I can be reached at neil.parkin@talktalk.net

Cant wait!!

Kind regards

Neil