POWELL Frederick

Appears on the Royal Air Force casualties list for Worcestershire.

1939 Register
Green Hill, Suckley
Annie E, Powell, born 28th June 1886, Household Duties Unpaid
Frederick H.T. Powell, born 26th March 1924, General Farm Hand

Berrow’s Worcester Journal, 29th July 1944
Suckley R.A.F. Sergeant Missing
Sergt. Frederick Henry Thomas Powell, R.A.F., only son of Mrs A.E. Powell, Green Hill, Suckley, is reported missing and is believed to have lost his life in bombing operations from Italy.
Sergt. Powell, who was 20 years of age, has many friends and relatives in Worcester, and was a member of 187 Squadron, A.T.C. in the city before volunteering for the R.A.F. in September, 1942. He was employed by Mrs Trimber, of White House, Suckley, as a gardener before entering the Services. He went to North Africa at the end of last October to complete his training as a wireless operator and air-gunner.
The report includes a photograph of Sgt. F.H. Powell.

A letter from the Reverend E. Spencer-Bartlett, Suckley, dated 6th May 1950 can be found within war records held at Worcestershire Archives requesting that Frederick Powell, RN (incorrect), be added to the county roll of honour.

A letter from Frederick Powell’s mother, A.E. Powell, Green Hill, Suckley, Worcester, dated 20th March 1952 can be found within war records held at Worcestershire Archives requesting that Sergeant F.H.T. Powell, RAF, service no 1583451, killed 30th June 1944 in Italy, be added to the county roll of honour.

The following information has been researched by and is courtesy of Jonathan Charles:
Frederick Powell enlisted with the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve at Birmingham on the 9th March 1942. He remained on Reserve until the 28th September 1942 when he was posted to 3 Recruit Centre at RAF Padgate. For the next 14 months he was posted to various RAF units for training before he was posted to Egypt on the 16th November 1943 to complete his training as a Wireless Operator and Air Gunner. He remained in North Africa until the 9th January 1944 when he was posted to the Middle East. On the 15th April 1944 he received what was to be his final posting, joining 70 Squadron at Foggia Italy on the 11th June 1944.

On the 29th June 1944 aircraft of 70 Squadron were detailed to attack the aerodrome located at Feuersbrunn, Austria. Ten Wellington MK X aircraft took off from Tortorella airfield including “B” LN873 with a crew of Sgt F.S. Barnes (Captain), Sgt W. Briggs (Navigator), Sgt J.J.R. Cullum (Air Bomber), Sgt Powell F.H.T. (Wireless Operator) and Sgt J.N.R. Mortlock (Rear Gunner). The aircraft took off at 20.40.

Log Report
Foggia Tortorella—Ditched
20 mins. after setting course from Start Point, stbd (starboard) engine failed completely. Jettisoned bombs and some petrol in Adriatic and started to return to base, at the same time sending radio message to that effect. About 6 miles from Start Point at 2000‘ port engine also failed, so made emergency ditching. A/c floated for only 1 minute (bomb panel smashed). Captain, A/B and R/G managed to get out—nothing heard of Navtr. Or W/Optr. who must be presumed drowned. Dinghy worked satisfactorily—3 Sgts. climbed in and saw A/c sink. After looking around for some time started to paddle for shore—fired reds and after a time were hailed by Italians from boat which had rowed out. Towed ashore near L. Lesina.”

After ditching, water would have rushed into the aircraft via the broken bomb panel and filled the nose section extremely rapidly. The positions of both navigator and Wireless operator behind the bulkhead of the pilot would have made evacuation from that area very difficult indeed. Captain and Bomb Aimer would have escaped through the hatch above the pilot seat. The Rear Gunner out through the back of his turret which was likely to be above water as the nose filled first. With the men in a confined central area, exit via the bulkhead into the cockpit area would have been hazardous and filling with water by the second. Indeed, that is even if the men were in a physical condition to be able to scramble out.

The body of Frederick Powell was never recovered. The remains of Sergeant William Briggs were washed ashore sometime later and he was buried in the military cemetery in Bari, Italy.