John Graham WILKINS
- Extended Description
- Flight Lieutenant John Graham WILKINS No. 55638 Royal Air Force
Stationed at RAF Oakington
Died 25 November 1948 aged 26 during the Berlin Airlift.
An RAF DC-3 Dakota, KP223 30 Squadron Departed Lubeck-Blankensee RAF Station, destination, RAF Gatow Airport, Berlin, Germany. The Dakota C.4 was on a Blind Approach Beam System (BABS) approach during the Berlin Airlift when it crashed after striking treesin the Soviet zone just outside the perimeter of the airfield and caught fire. They were part of the Berlin Airlift
Crashed killing:
Pilot Officer, Francis Ivor TREZONA died 17 November 1948 at the scene. Wills and Admin, Ancestry. He resided at 176 Falmouth Road, Redruth, Cornwall and died on date stated at Duvenneat, Germany. (Russian Zone) His effects went to Rhoda May Trezona, married woman.
Flight Lieutenant, Navigator 55636 John Graham WILKINS. He was picked up by the Russians and taken to hospital at Schönberg, but died several days later as a result of his injuries. His wife, Mrs J Wilkins was flown out to Lübeck and was permitted to enter the Russian Zone to be at her husband’s bedside.
Signaller Class III Philip Arthur Lough died 17 November 1948 at the scene. Previously he was involved in a crash when he flying solo on a training flight in a de Havilland DH98 Mosquito B Mk XVI registration, PF487. He was taking off from RAF Downham Market, Norfolk when the engine lost power and it crashed and the plane was beyond repair.
Sergeant 2221594 Frank Dowling (passenger,from Air Movements Section) stationed at RAF Gatow. Born 14 September 1925 Died 17 November 1948 at the scene. At rest in Military Cemetery, Ohsldorf, Germany. Wills and Admin, Ancestry. He resided at 9 Pinglestone Close, Harmondsworth, West Drayton, Middlesex. Died on date stated at Duvenneat, Germany. (Russian Zone). His effects went to Gladys Maud Stoneman Young wife of William Read Young and William Read Young, accountant.
At rest at Military Cemetery, Ohsldorf, Germany.
Commemorated on a family headstone at
King's Stanley St George Churchyard, Gloucestershire.
Also commemorated on the headstone is
Gunner Patrick James WILKINS No. 2545709 5 Field Regt. Royal Artillery
Died 26 September 1945 aged 18
Son of John Francis and Evelyn Louise Wilkins, of King's Stanley.
