HENRY PHILIP MILLS

Born: 1919, Ipswich.

Died: 14th September 1945; age: 26; a passenger in an aircraft accident.

Residence: 3, Woodville Road, Ipswich.

Occupation: a Capstan Lathe worker – Agricultural Engineers.

Rank: Corporal; Service Number: 1216502.

Regiment: Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, 644 Squadron.

Memorial Reference:

Screen Wall.

Ipswich Crematorium,

Ipswich.

Relatives Notified & Address: Son of Frederick Walter & Elizabeth Jane Mills, of Ipswich.

Father: Frederick Walter Mills, born 1888, Bramford, Suffolk. A Commercial Clerk.

Mother: Elizabeth Jane Mills (nee Day), born 1888, Yoxford, Suffolk.

ENGLAND & WALES REGISTER 1939.

Henry was a Capstan Lathe – Agricultural Engineers. He was living with his parents & sick brother at their family home – 59, Melville Road, Ipswich.

Frederick, a Foreman – Agricultural Engineers.

Elizabeth, unpaid Domestic Duties.

Kenneth F. Mills, born February 1921, Ipswich – died 1939, Ipswich.

Henry attended Ipswich School.

Probate to Frederick Walter Mills, a Commercial Clerk.

Henry is also remembered on the Ipswich School Chapel war memorial.

14th September 1945

Aircraft: Handley Page Halifax; serial number: PN305; code: 9U-W; based at R.A.F. Tarrant Rushton, Dorset. The aircraft with a crew of 7 from 644 Squadron, and 14 passengers was en-route to the Azores, an autonomous region of Portugal. While flying over Cornwall, an electrical failure caused the dingy inflation valve to activate. The rescue dingy blew up, and came free of it’s storage area in the wing, and became wrapped around the tail plane, restricting the elevators. PN305 went out of control, dived and crashed at Priddacombe, Bodmin Moor, Cornwall. The aircraft was completely wrecked and all crew and passengers were killed.

PN305 Crew:

Peter Strafford Briggs; Flight Officer/Air Gunner; age 24; R.A.F.V.R.

Jeremiah Charles Garnett; Flight Lieutenant/Pilot; age 23; R.A.F.V.R.

Clifford William Akers; Flight Sergeant/Air Gunner; age 27; R.A.F.V.R.   Photograph courtesy of Reg Mitchell.

(Harry) William Henry Mathias; Flight Sergeant/Wireless Operator; age 20; R.A.F.V.R.   Photograph courtesy of Janine Morgan.

Geoffrey Percival Ormesher; Flight Lieutenant/Navigator; age 22; R.A.F.V.R.

Alan John Reardon; Flight Officer/2nd Pilot; age 23; R.A.F.V.R.

Gerald Theodore Bailey; Flight Lieutenant/Flight Engineer; age 23; R.A.F.V.R.

PN305 Passengers

Robert Owen; Aircraftman 2nd Class; age 18; R.A.F.V.R.

Dennis Martin; Aircraftman 2nd Class; age 20; R.A.F.V.R.

Alan Ralph Titford; Aircraftman 2nd Class; age 21; R.A.F.V.R.

Edward Joseph Lynott; Leading Aircraftman 1st Class; age 21; R.A.F.V.R.

Roy William Nicholls; Leading Aircraftman; age 22; R.A.F.V.R.

Leonard Roy Victor Cox; Leading Aircraftman; age 23; R.A.F.V.R.

Patrick Fitzgibbon; Aircraftman 1st Class; age 23; R.A.F.V.R.

Stanley Price; Leading Aircraftman; age 23; R.A.F.V.R.

(Ted) Edwin Arthur George Pettifer; Leading Aircraftman; age 24; R.A.F.V.R.

Ernest Raymond Richings; Leading Aircraftman; age 24; R.A.F.V.R.

Selwyn Thomas; Leading Aircraftman; age 25; R.A.F.V.R.

Cecil Everard Charles Hoborough; Leading Aircraftman; age 25; R.A.F.V.R.

Thomas Smith Wallace; Leading Aircraftman; age 35; R.A.F.V.R.