Samuel Alfred SULSH. Pilot Officer Flight Engineer 56536 Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. (Formerly Sgt 357528 RAF) of 190 Squadron R.A.F. at RAF Base Great Dunmow, Essex
Husband of Aileen Norah Sulsh, of Hillsborough who he married 1924 at Hendon Middlesex. He may have been stationed at RAF Hendon
London Gazette dated 3 April 1945. ROYAL AIR FORCE, GENERAL DUTIES BRANCH.
Appointment to commission. As Pilot Officers on probation. (emergency): Sergeant 357528 Samuel Alfred Sulsh
He was part of a crew of seven in a Stirling IV LJ930 of Unit 190 Squadron Airfield flow by Wing Commander Richard Henry Bunker DSO.,DFC., Bar . The 20 April 1945 the crew had landed at RAF Odiham, Hampshire having just returned from Belgium with repatriated PoWs and were re-positioning to their base. The pilot took off for Great Dunmow apparently aware that the tail wheel was flat. He was instructed by flying control not to take off. The heat generated by friction caused a fire in the tail of the aircraft after take-off. Within a few minutes the rear turret had broken away from the aircraft causing the plane to crash out of control in flames near Windelsham, Surrey. It appeared that the control cables had been burnt through. The crew perished at the scene. He was aged 39 years. At rest in Eglantine Church of Ireland Cemetery County Down Northern Ireland.
The following extract is credited to
http://aircrewremembered.com/bunker-richard-henry.html -
On the 20 April 1945 the crew had landed at RAF Odiham after an operation and were re-positioning to their base. The experienced pilot decided to take off apparently aware that the tail wheel was flat – he had been instructed by flying control not to take off. The heat generated by the friction started a fire in the tail of the aircraft after the Stirling had taken off. Within minutes the rear turret had broken away with the aircraft then crashing out of control – presumably the control cables had been burnt through. All the crew were lost.
At rest in Eglantine Church of Ireland Cemetery, County Down, Northern Ireland
Personal Inscription. foot of his headstone Always in our thoughts, wife Aileen and children. He died that we might live.
The other crew were
Jeffrey ALDRED. Sergeant Air Bomber 3010575 RAF
Ronald Lewis BAGLEY. Flight Sergeant Engineer 1812807 RAF
Richard Henry BUNKER. DFC Wing Commander Pilot 40668 RAF (Royal Air Force of Oman)
Kenneth Gerald GARDINER. Sergeant Wireless Op/Air Gunner 1587766 RAF
Frederick Charles KING. Sergeant Navigator 1587589 RAF
George Robert Thompson TAYLOR. Flying Officer Air Bomber 55614 RA
