Sergeant (Pilot) Harold James Barnwell

  General Notes:

11/05/1940: Betheniville, F

A Bristol Bombay transport of 271 Squadron bringing reinforcements and spares for 501 Squadron stalled on approach to the airfield and crashed killing four and injuring 12.

Type: Bristol Bombay
Serial number: L5813, BJ-?
Operation: Betheniville
Lost: 11/05/1940

Sergeant (Pilot) William H. Whitfield, RAF 740692, 271 Sqdn., age 23, 11/05/1940, Terlincthun British Cemetery, Wimille, F.

Of 501 Squadron F/O Alister C.J. Percy was killed in this crash. He was the 501 Squadron Adjutant.

Of 105 Squadron Sgt (Pilot) Harold J. Barnwell, RAF 566573 was killed in this crash. Both are also buried on Terlincthun British Cemetery.

Flying Officer Bernard J.R. Brady, RAFVR 90403, (615 Sqdn according to CWCG) was seriously injured and evacuated to the UK where he died on 14/08/1940. He is buried on Southborough Cemetery, UK.

Amongst the wounded were:
Sgt H.C. Adams
F/Sgt F.T. Avent
Sgt D.B. Crabtree
Sgt J. Davis
P/O B. L. Duckenfield
AC1 A F. Holdsworth
LAC A L.W. Holt

Sources: CWGC, Peter D. Cornwell, The Battle of France, Then and Now, 2008; David Watkins, Fear Nothing, 1990; Phil Listemann, 501 (County of Gloucester) Sqn 1939-1945, 2007; 103 Squadron in France, 1939-1940. See also TOCH Forum.


"Battle of France - then and now" Peter D Cornwell, confirms this loss as Bombay L5813 (no Sqn Code given).

The casualties were :-
F/O A C J Percy Killed, given as 501 Sqn on CWGC
Sgt H J Barnwell Killed given as 105 Sqn on CWGC
Sgt W H Whitfield 217 Sqn Killed

Sgt H C Adams
F/Sgt F T Avent
Sgt D B Crabtree
Sgt J Davis
P/O B L Duckenfield
AC1 A F Holdsworth
LAC A L W Holt all injured but no unit given.

F/O B J R Brady,seriously inj and evacuated to UK where he died on 14/8/40.


An Eyewitness Account of the Crash

Byron Duckenfield started at Flying Training School on 25th November 1935 in a Blackburn B2 at Brough. As a Sergeant, he joined No.32 Sqn at Biggin Hill on 8th August 1936 and flew Gauntlets and Hurricanes. He joined 74 Squadron at Hornchurch on 11th April 1940, flying Spitfires, and on 5th May was posted to 501 Squadron flying Hurricanes at Tangmere. On the 11th of May at Betheniville, he survived a crash in a passenger transport Bombay aircraft, an aircraft in which he was a passenger, While coming into land the aircraft, at 200 feet the aircraft stalled and the aircraft fell backwards just levelling out as it hit the ground. Five of the passengers were killed when the centre section collapsed and crushed them. Duckenfield was fortunate as he had moved position during the flight, as the two passengers sitting each side of where he was sitting had died in the crash. It was found later that the Bombay had been loaded with to much weight in the aft section.


Disbanded in 1920, No 105 was re-formed at Harwell as a bomber squadron in 1937 and equipped with Hawker Audaxes which were replaced later in the year by Fairey Battles. In the early months of the Second World War it served with the Advanced Air Striking Force in France, and in May 1940, was one of the squadrons which attacked the Meuse bridges in an attempt to stem the German advance.

Harold married Pearl Ruby Lloyd Dec Qtr 1939 in Birmingham, Warwickshire. (Pearl Ruby Lloyd was born about 1920.)

  Marriage Notes:

Dec Qtr 1939; Birmingham; Vol 6d; Page 1070.