RAF Bomber Command Losses of the Second World War
Roll of Honour 1939-47 - amendments and additions
Volume 9, Appendix 1 Casualty Statistics, p484

as at 24 Jan 2009

Introduction

The RAF Bomber Command WW2 casualty statistics require careful consideration, hence the inclusion of Bill Chorley's explanatory text from Appendix 1 of Vol 9. This is followed by an explanation of the how the latest figures have been arrived at taking into account additions and amendments to date.

p 483/484 Vol 9: Appendix 1

"A Table of Casualty Statistics
In my introduction, I quote a figure of 'over 57,000' names commemorated in this Roll of Honour; it is now necessary to be much more precise and explain in some detail the reasoning and methods used in garnering the statistics that follow. In recent years various figures have been bandied about as to how many airmen, and airwomen, died while serving with Bomber Command, the general consensus of opinion settling on '55,500'. The first question now must be; from where did this figure originate? Turning to the quite invaluable work of Martin Middlebrook and Chris Everitt in compiling their epic Bomber Command War Diaries and in particular to their analysis of the operational statistics for the period 3rd September, 1939 to 7th-8th May, 1945, the breakdown of aircrew casualties are shown as, and I now quote precisely from what is reported on page 708 of the diaries:

'The Air Ministry was able to compile the following figures up to 31 May 1947:
Killed in action or died while prisoners of war 47,268
Killed in flying or ground accidents 8,195
Killed in ground-battle action 37
Total fatal casualties to aircrew 55,500
Prisoners of war, including many wounded 9,838
Wounded in aircraft which returned from operations 4,200
Wounded in flying or ground accidents in U. K. 4,203
Total wounded, other than prisoners of war 8,403
Total aircrew casualties 73,741'

In a footnote, Martin states that the analysis here given was sent to him by letter from the Air Historical Branch, 25th June, 1969, and Appendix 41 of the British Official History, Volume IV, pp. 440-44.

On page 711, the authors show a breakdown of aircrew casualties by nationality, and omitting the percentage totals, these are given as:

Royal Air Force 38,462
Royal Canadian Air Force 9,919
Royal Australian Air Force 4,050
Royal New Zealand Air Force 1,679
Polish Air Force 929
Other Allied Air Forces 473
South African Air Force 34
Other Dominions 27

These figures come to 55,573 and the authors point out that the discrepancy between the '55,500' reported from the Air Ministry and the '55,573' arrived at from a breakdown of deaths by air force can be explained by the inclusion in the latter of 73 airmen who died from natural causes. Furthermore, the authors indicate that 91 airwomen (Women's Auxiliary Air Force) died on duty.

My analysis will differ from what has been reported in these opening statements; my database of names for inclusion in the Roll has been built up from a close inspection of the cemetery registers produced by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission, followed by an examination of other published works and which I credit in my introduction. Furthermore, in keeping with the Commonwealth War Graves Commission practice of reporting all service deaths up to the end of 1947, my Roll incorporates the names of all Bomber Command personnel that I have been able to identify who lost their lives up to the 31st December, 1947.

Casualties from the air forces concerned will be self explanatory, as should the method employed of reporting deaths from amongst attached personnel. And, what I believe to be a first, these sombre (such an adjective is needed to emphasise what follows) statistics are being broken down on a yearly basis, thus illustrating that as the bombing campaign increased in intensity, so the losses to aircrew rose significantly, despite ever-improving aircraft and aids to combat the scourge of the German night defences and in particular, what evolved by the middle years of the war as a formidable night fighter force.

What is significant are the increases that I am able to show in the table below, even when allowing for casualties incurred during 1946 and 1947, and for those who lost their lives while on attachment to other Commands and overseas theatres of operations.

To take the Air Ministry reported figure of '1,679' in respect of the Royal New Zealand Air Force, my trawl of Errol Martyn's two volumes results in a total of '1,703' (1,699 up to the end of the war in Europe and four in the period twixt the 7th-8th May, and the surrender in the Far East).

Likewise, deaths regarding Royal Canadian Air Force servicemen are up by 264, the Australians by 39 and the Polish Air Force by 48.

But by far the largest increase is in Royal Air Force losses which are up over the 'official' figure by a margin of 1,330.

I have not, however, been able to find the 91 Women's Auxiliary Air Force casualties, reported by Martin Middlebrook and Chris Everett, my figure of 41 (which includes two airwomen from the Polish Air Force) falling short by a difference of 50, and the South African Air Force by 22; and it is certain I have not been able to name every airman from the ground staff who died on duty with Bomber Command.

Thus, my figure of 57,205, staggering though it is, cannot be taken as a definitive total."

Reflecting additions and amendments

The additions and amendments which have come to light after the publication of Volume 9, the Roll of Honour sometimes affect the casualty statistics which are set out in the Table above. For clarity, the latest version of that Table is shown below, followed by a listing of the contributory changes.

The final column, not published in Volume 9, is based on casualties up to and including 8 May 1945.

Reasons for changes

[WR Chorley 14/03/08] RoH/456 add 37696 W/C  SPEARE  Richard Douglas 23-11-45  HQBC
[RAAF] RoH/461 add 426550  P/O  DAMM  Alfred John  9-04-45  466 Sqn
RAF/1945/totals +1, RAAF/1945/totals +1

[WR Chorley (from Peter Cunliffe) 27/03/08] RoH/227 Sgt PARK Donald Jasper 28-04-43: delete South Africa
1943 South Africa -1, 1943 RAF +1, adjust corresponding totals

[Martin Giles 14/07/08]
RoH/009 add 370706 F/S ALSTON Hugh Durbin 17-06-40 98 Sqn
RoH/011 add 545496 Cpl KEVAN Robert 17-06-40 98 Sqn
RoH/031 add 42237 P/O LAWTON Alan Blanchard 19-06-40 115 Sqn
+3 RAF 1940, total RAF +3, 1940 total +3 and overall total +3

[Mark Haycock 21/07/08] RoH/359 add 2220929 Sgt POPPER Heinz George 30-08-44 101 Sqn
+1 RAF 1944, total RAF +1, 1944 total +1 and overall total +1

[Martin Giles 23/07/08] RoH/010 add 534033 LAC CORMACK-BEATSON Charles Edward 17-06-40 98 Sqn
+1 RAF 1940, total RAF +1, 1940 total +1 and overall total +1

[Dave Johnson 25/07/08]
RoH/443 add 165031 F/O DINMORE Hubert Dunstan 4-01-45 1659 HCU
RoH/447 add 1686415 Sgt HOLMES Reginald William 4-01-45 1659 HCU
RoH/448 add 1818890 Sgt JAMES Albert Edward William 4-01-45 1659 HCU
RoH/451 add 979873 Sgt McCAFFERTY Hugh Patrick 4-01-45 1659 HCU
RoH/459 add 1880814 Sgt WILSON George Alfred 4-01-45 1659 HCU
RoH/459 add 1492739 Sgt WILSON Thomas 4-01-45 1659 HCU
+6 RAF 1945, total RAF +6, 1945 total +6 and overall total +6

[Mark Haycock 30/07/08]
RoH/022 add 743074 Sgt ANDERSON Frederick Lawrence 20-06-40 12 OTU
RoH/350 add 103586 F/L MILFORD MiD Harold John 6-04-44 226 Sqn
+1 RAF 1940 and 1940 total, +1 RAF 1944 and 1944 total, total RAF +2 and overall total +2

* includes a military war correspondent killed on operations with 460 Squadron [see 1943/413]
[Mark Haycock 30/07/08] RoH/292 add ROYAL NORWEGIAN AIR FORCE
NORWEGIAN MILITARY WAR CORRESPONDENT
Capt GREIG J M B 3-12-43 460 Sqn
+1 RNAF and 1943 total, and overall total +1

[Mark Haycock 30/07/08] RoH/448 add 33116 G/C JEUDWINE DSO OBE DFC MiD John Raymond 19-10-45 Little Staughton SFlt
+1 RAF and 1945 total, and overall total +1

[Mark Haycock 09/08/08] RoH/059 add 39015 S/L HARVEY DFC Keith Thomas Alfred 30-12-41 23 OTU
+1 RAF and 1941 total, and overall total +1

[Don Drew 12/08/08] RoH/349 add 1348689 Sgt McKENNA Thomas 23-08-44 83 OTU
+1 RAF and 1944 total, and overall total +1

[Chris Pointon 12/08/08] RoH/258 [RAAF] add 429318 Sgt HANSON Noel Charles 6-11-43 27 OTU
+1 RAAF and 1943 total, and overall total +1

[Bryce Gomersall and Mark Haycock 17/08/08] RoH/361 add 1582137 F/S REED Frank Edward 9-12-44 620 Sqn
+1 RAF and 1944 total, and overall total +1

[rafcommand web site and Mark Haycock 12/09/08]
RoH/170 add 1251427 Sgt ADAMS James 3-02-43 1657 HCU
RoH/179 add 1457184 Sgt BROWN Jack 3-02-43 1658 HCU
RoH/181 add 1231848 Sgt BUTTERY Donal John William 3-02-43 1658 HCU
RoH/188 add 1390928 Sgt CULSHAW Donald Owen Colwell 3-02-43 1658 HCU
RoH/196 add 937274 Sgt FOX Leslie 3-02-43 1657 HCU
RoH/203 add 125306 F/O HART William James 3-02-43 1658 HCU
+ 6 RAF and 1943 total, and overall total +6

[rafcommand web site and Mark Haycock 12/09/08] RoH/441 add 1123766 F/S BYRNE Francis Dermot 5-02-45 1654 HCU
+ 1 RAF and 1945 total, and overall total +1

[Linzee Druce 12/09/08]
RoH/109 add 1029811 Sgt GREENBANK William Morphet 19-01-42 20 OTU
RoH/115 add 1380631 Sgt KILBURN Michael Hentry John 19-01-42 20 OTU
+ 2 RAF and 1942 total, and overall total +2

[Mark Haycock 12/09/08]
RoH/101 add 944083 F/S COOK Tom 30-05-42 16 OTU
RoH/104 add 580430 W/O DOYLE Brian 30-05-42 16 OTU
+ 2 RAF and 1942 total, and overall total +2

[Dave Johnson 12/09/08] RoH/138 add 626965 Sgt WOLFENDEN John Pennington 22-09-42 103 CFlt
+ 1 RAF and 1942 total, and overall total +1

[Mark Haycock 22/09/08]
RoH/105 add 522113 Sgt EWEN George 25-06-42 10 OTU
RoH/192 add 1312809 Sgt DUNN Allan John 1-05-43 1663 HCU
RoH/205 add 1520789 Sgt HINETT Henry 1-05-43 1663 HCU
RoH/228 add 1397020 Sgt PELHAM Wilfred John 1-05-43 1663 HCU
RoH/242 add 1388152 Sgt SUFFLING Dennis William 1-05-43 1663 HCU
RoH/252 add 815223 Sgt WILLIAMSON Eric Ford 1-05-43 1663 HCU
+1 1942 RAF & total, +5 1943 RAF & total; overall total +6

[National Archives of Australia via Colin Bruggy 22/09/08] RoH/338 delete 64299 F/L JAMES Clement Hugh Lawton [South Africa] 11-03-44 97 Sqn
- 1 1944 RAF & total; overall total -1

[Mark Haycock 19/10/08]
RoH/107 add 1253003 Sgt GARRICK John Hartas George 31-05-42 26 OTU
RoH/137 add 1429514 AC1 WILKINSON John Arthur 3-06-42 14 OTU
RoH/185 add 751872 Sgt COOK Fred Arthur 29-09-43 1659 HCU
RoH/196 add 957702 Sgt FOX Raymond 28-01-43 1658 HCU
RoH/197 add 1047436 Sgt GARLAND James Arthur [Jim] 28-01-43 1658 HCU
RoH/368 add 1673879 Sgt SMITH Derek Shirley 18-05-44 1664 HCU
+2 1942 RAF, +3 1943 RAF, +1 1944 RAF; overall total +6

[Mark Haycock 19/10/08] RoH/314 delete R/110020 LAC COOK 61 Base, entered here in error (1944); see RoH/403 (1944) where his details have been correctly reported.
- 1 1944 RAF & total; overall total -1

[RAF Commands and Australian War Memorial via Mark Haycock 07/01/09]
RoH/355 RAF add 1584611 Sgt OLIVER Edward Henry 26-01-44 1652 CU
RoH/386 RAAF add 417451 F/S BOWERING Frank Edgar 26-01-44 1652 CU
RoH/388 RAAF add 37524 F/S DAVIS Albert Russell 26-01-44 1652 CU
RoH/389 RAAF add 415578 F/S GRAHAM Kevin Malcolm Ford 26-01-44 1652 CU
RoH/398 RAAF add 20772 F/S WOOD Geoffrey Markwell 26-01-44 1652 CU
+1 1944 RAF, +4 1944 RAAF; overall total +5

[RAF Commands and Mark Haycock 07/01/09]
RoH/299 add 2210700 Sgt ANKERS Ronald Thomas 30-07-44 11 OTU
RoH/300 add 3041184 Sgt ASPIN Thomas 30-07-44 11 OTU
RoH/308 add 1211203 F/S BROWN DFM Sidney 30-07-44 11 OTU
RoH/322 add 1381391 W/O EVANS DFM Ernest Stanley Ivor 3-01-44 619 Sqn
RoH/330 add 144463 F/O HALY DFC Edward Fred Hutchinson 17-09-44 1652 HCU [British Guiana: Note add 1 to British Guiana 1944 and British Guiana and Table totals in Appendix 2]
RoH/326 add 179288 P/O GARTHWAITE Herbert 2-09-44 1656 HCU
RoH/346 add 41103 F/L MACADAM DFM Lawrence Edward 30-07-44 11 OTU
RoH/373 add 163727 P/O TAYLOR Richard John 30-07-44 11 OTU
RoH/436 add Cdt HARRIS Frederick James Dennis 30-07-44 11 OTU [Air Training Corps]
RoH/456 add 188176 P/O SPEED Howard Percy 15-04-45 1667 HCU
RoH/459 add 646531 Sgt WINTERBOTTOM Jack 8-04-45 1653 HCU
+9 1944 RAF, +2 1945 RAF; overall total +11

[RAF Commands via Mark Haycock 07/01/09]
RoH/073 add 903863 Sgt SHARP Hubert George 12-05-41 58 Sqn
RoH/331 add 183571 P/O HARMER John Russell 19-07-44 78 Sqn
+1 1941 RAF, +1 1944 RAF; overall total +2

[Mark Haycock 08/01/09]
RoH/436 add 34023 Maj WHIPP TD Sidney 3-05-44 North Killingholme
RoH/149 add 121777 P/O HOWSON Kenneth Joseph 20-10-42 21 OTU
+1 1942 RAF, +1 1944 Army, overall total +2

[NAA:166/17/120 via Mark Haycock 13/01/09]
RoH/293 Army add 2065760 Sgt CARTER Arthur 18-08-43 11 OTU
RoH/293 Army add 787493 Sgt RICHINGS Harry Tom 18-08-43 11 OTU
+2 1943 Army, overall total +2

[via Mark Haycock 24/01/09]
RoH/089 Royal Indian Air Force add P/O PASHA Ali Raza Khan 17-08-41 10 OTU
RoH/236 add 1311346 Sgt SEMARK Bernard Martin 8-09-43 29 OTU
RoH/250 add 1458991 Sgt WIDDOWSON William Arthur 8-09-43 29 OTU
RoH/368 add 1575172 Sgt SMALLWOOD Charles Frederick 17-03-44 17 OTU
+1 RIAF 1941, +2 1943 RAF, +1 RAF 1944, overall total +4