RAYMOND VALENTINE MONTIGUE DANIELS

Raymond is not remembered on the war memorial at Christchurch Park.

Born: 1920, Salford, Manchester, Lancashire.

Died: 15^th February 1944; age: 24; killed when aircraft shot down over Overijssel, The Netherlands on a return flight from an attack on Berlin.

Residence: Ipswich.

Rank: Sergeant/Air Gunner; Service: 962812.

Regiment: Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, 35 Squadron – Madras Presidency.

Grave Reference:

Row 2, Grave 3.

Diepenveen General Cemetery,

Netherlands.

Relatives Notified & Address: Son of Montigue & Edith Daniels, of Ipswich; husband of Stella Daniels, of Ipswich.

Father: Montigue Valentine Daniels, born February 1889, Ashbocking, Suffolk.

Mother: Edith May Daniels (nee Pettit), born August 1897, Debenham, Suffolk.

ENGLAND & WALES REGISTER 1939

Raymond was living with his parents & brothers at their family home – 5, Howe Avenue, Ipswich.

Montigue, a Foundry Labourer.

Edith, unpaid Domestic Duties.

Robert George Daniels, born 1923, Farnham, Surrey.

Leonard Charles Daniels, born October 1925, Hartley, Hampshire.

In 1943, Ipswich, Raymond married Stella Gertrude Kersey, born June 1919, Ipswich – daughter of Thomas William (a Checker with G.E.Railway Company) & Laura Vince Kersey (nee Coe), of Ipswich.

15^th February 1944

Aircraft: Handley Page Halifax III, serial number: LV861, code: TL-O, based at R.A.F Station Graveley, Huntingdonshire. On the 15^th February, LV861 took-off at 17:36hrs. The Halifax was 1 of 19 aircraft from No. 35 Squadron on a mission to attack Berlin, Germany. At 23:00hrs on the return journey LV861 was hit by a German Nightfighter over the province of Overijssel, The Netherlands. With an engine on fire, Pilot Colin Blundell gave the order to jump. The aircraft crashed and exploded in a field in Diepenveen. 4 of the crew were killed, 3 airmen survived the crash and evaded capture with the help of the underground Dutch Resistance.

Fellow crew killed:

Jeffrey Eugene Pogonowski; Flight Sergeant/Air Gunner; age 22; R.A.A.F.

Colin Frazer Blundell; Pilot Officer/Pilot; age: 28; R.A.A.F.

Leslie Albert Hazell; Flight Sergeant/Flight Engineer; R.A.F.

Fellow crew survived:

Patrick Baring Oates Ranalow; Flight Lieutenant/ Navigator; R.A.F.V.R.; repatriated 6^th October 1944. On the 8^th April 1945, Patrick was an Air Bomber aboard Lancaster NG440, a Pathfinder aircraft, No. 35 Squadron. The nose of the aircraft was hit by flax and crashed near Rotenburg, Germany. Patrick survived the crash and was hospitalised by the Germans. He died of his wounds 10^th April 1945 and laid to rest at Rotenburg Cemetery. In August 1946, the body was reinterred at Becklingen War Cemetery.  

Reginald Moreton; Flight Sergeant/Wireless Operator/Air Bomber; R.A.F.V.R.; repatriated 7^th September 1944.

Albert Walter Bennett D.F.C.; Wireless Operator/Air Bomber; R.A.F.V.R.; repatriated 30^th September 1944.