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RAF aircraft's crash sites in Province of Liege:
Saint-Vith

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Last update: 25/06/23


Elegy to
the Heroes of Silence


* To the 88 Squadron *
* To the crew of P2261-RH *
* To the monument erected in remembrance *
* Cemetery where rest the crew *

Crash site of Battle P2261-RH
11/05/1940

aircraft
cest raf squadron
Unit: 88 Squadron
Aircraft: Battle
Code: P2261-RH
Base: Mourmelon (F)
Mission: Bouillon
Crew officer: P/O SKIDMORE, BRUCE IAN MUDDIMAN
Incident: Shot down by German fighter

Location: (Prov. Liege)

crash

Facts

Fairey Battle Mk.1 P2261 (RH-B) of 88 Squadron, RAF: Lost on combat operations - officially described as "Battle P2261 crashed at Noville, Belgium, 11 May 1940". Airborne 09:45 hrs from Mourmelon-le-Grand, France. At 9:45 am six Battle of 88 Squadron and two aircraft of the 218 Squadron from Baccones-sur-Marne took off to attack enemy columns at St-Vith. It is doubtful whether one of them succeeded in causing damage to the enemy column. The only crew that returned, their Battle was badly damaged by Flak on the way there, saw three Battles being knocked down by heavy Flak on the way to the target above the Ardennes. Seven aircraft were lost in total.
P2261 was one of those that crashed. It was shot down near St-Vith (Liège), Wallonia, Belgium (at approximate coordinates: 50°16′N 06°07′E). All three crew killed:
Crew of Battle P2261:
Pilot Officer (Pilot) Bruce I.M. Skidmore, RAF 40644, age 20, killed in action 11/05/1940, buried at Hotton War Cemetery, Belgium
Sergeant (Observer) Ronald A.P. Kirby, RAF 518693, age 24, killed in action 11/05/1940, buried Hotton War Cemetery, Belgium
Aircraftman 1st Class (Wireless Op./Air Gunner) William L. Parsons, RAF 612745, killed in action 11/05/1940, buried Hotton War Cemetery, Belgium
NOTE: The official Air Ministry file on this incident (File AIR 81/244) gives the crash location as "Noville"; that location is at Fexhe-le-Haut-Clocher, a Walloon municipality located in the Belgian province of Liège (at approximate Coordinates: 50°40′N 05°24′E) - the same province (Liège) but 92 km away.

Sources:

The International Bomber Command Centre (IBCC)
Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC)
Aircrew Remembered
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