D657 Reginald John PENN. Civilian, Senior Technical Officer,with the Royal Aircraft Establishment at Farnborough. passenger
Formerly F1490 Royal Navy. Tech Officer.
Killed 15 February 1935, Singapore III (K3595), on charge of No.210 Squadron, being delivered to No.205 Squadron.
Mr Reginald John Penn who took the place of Major Penny just before the machine left Naples. He was a civilian air expert attached to RAF Farnborough.
The plane left Naples for Calafrane RAF Base, Malta, en route from England to Singapore but about 11.15am due to fog into Mount Beloritainia, near Messina, in Sicily and burst into flames, no survivors. This was one of four aircraft which had left Pembroke Dock on 15 January 1935 en route to Singapore. The bodies were recovered and, escorted by British and Italian naval personnel, were placed on board II.M.S.Durban at Messina, carried to Malta, and buried there.
Wills and Admin, Ancestry - His residence in England was Kenwyn Church Avenue, Farnborough, Hampshire. Killed on date stated at Messina, Sicily. His effects went his wife Margaret Isabella Penn and Charles Coates, commercial traveller.
He was born 16 May 1893, baptised 22 August 1897 at St Barnabas, South Lambeth, London to Alfred Edward and Mary Ann Penn nee Finlay of Brassington Road, Earlsfield.
He was married the 9th September 1919, aged 26 years to Margaret Isabella Coates also aged 26 at St Anne’s Church, Wandsworth, London. At the time of his marriage he was residing at 03 Brassington Road, Earlsfield Wandsworth and at Kenwyn Church Avenue, Farnborough Hampshire along wife Margaret Isabella Penn.
Notes from his service record.
Leading Mechanic F1490 Reginald John Penn. Royal Navy. Born 16 May 1893 of Wandsworth London.
Occupation, engineer.
He enlisted 18 November 1914, occupation, Engineer. He was posted the same day to HMS Penbroke III as air mechanic.
1st April 1915 posted to HMS President.
1st March 1916 on HMS Dover at sea as Leading Mechanic until the 27 February 1917.
28th February transferred as Tech Officer in the Officers Section.
UK, Mechanical Engineer Records, 1847-1938 for Reginald John Penn
EDUCATION.
1898-1909 Higher Grade and Sec Schools, Wandsworth and Battersea.
1908-09 Battersea Polytechnic Day Tech College.
1909-10 Battersea Polytech Evening Classes.
1010-11 Erith Tech School.
APPRENTICESHIP
1909-11 D. Napier and Sons, Acton and Foster Engineering Co.
1911-14 Callenders Cable Co., Belvedere Kent, as Asst. on Works and Engineering Staff.
SUBSEQUENT CAREER.
1914 Asst., on Engineering Staff, Noble Explosive Co., Kingsway.
1914-19 In H.M. Forces. R.N.A,S., served as Engine Mechanic on Flying Observers duties in France. WARRANT OFFICER i/c Engine and Seaplane repair shops and as Tech Officer.
1919-21 ASST CHIEF TECH ENGINEER, A.B.C. Motors Ltd., Walton-on-Thames, i/c area Engine, desn and construction.
1921-22 TECH OFFICER, Engine Branch, Directorate of Research Air Ministry.
Present Employment.
1922 Tech Officer 1/c Engine Research Flight, Engine Research Dept, Royal Aircraft Establishment, Farnborough, Hampshire. Resp, to Engine Research Dept, for Engine Flight Research with Staff of 25 Mechanics, etc., 4 Tech Assistants and 4 Pilots.
At rest in Capuccini Naval Cemetery, Malta Plot D Grave 657.
His service record.
