Frank Mayes
Memorial: South Gloucestershire war dead not on a local memorial
Regiment: Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
Medals: 1939–45 Star, War Medal 1939–1945
Rank and number: Flying Officer (Bomb Aimer/Navigator) 116790
Parents: Thomas George and Fanny Frances Mayes
Marital status: Married
Home address: 27 The Park, Kingswood, Bristol
Pre-war occupation: Assurance Agent
Date of birth: 18/02/1915
Place of birth: South Farnborough, Hampshire
Date of death: 13/11/1942
Buried/Commemorated at: Buried at Scampton (St. John the Baptist) Churchyard, Lincolnshire. Not commemorated on a local memorial
Age: 27
Further information:
Frank was born in South Farnborough Hampshire. He married Cora Beryl Lockhart in 1939 and they moved to Kingswood.
Frank joined 97 Squadron which was based at RAF Conningsby Lincolnshire but at the time of his death Conningsby was closed for renovations and 97 squadron was stationed at RAF Waddington. Frank enlisted in February 1942, as a probationer and died nine months later during a training exercise. On the day of his death Frank and seven other crew members were aboard Lancaster bomber I R5569 taking part in a "bullseye" exercise - a simulated night bombing operation against a 'target' town or city in the UK - designed to give crews the experience of an operational sortie without crossing into enemy territory. On their return, the crew encountered adverse weather conditions and tried to make an emergency landing at RAF Scampton but the aircraft crashed killing all on board.
By kind permission, this information is based on the following source(s):
This information has been provided by Sarah Hands, Volunteer Researcher for the South Gloucestershire War Memorials Web Site.
By kind permission, this information is based on the following source(s):
https://www.cwgc.org/
https://www.ancestry.co.uk/
https://www.findmypast.co.uk/
https://www.forces-war-records.co.uk/
http://www.rafcommands.com/database/wardead/details.php?qnum=93358