Lost on operations to Stavanger (April 1940)
Photographs:
Commemorating Corporal James Doran, RAF
[Died 14.04.1940]
(Top): James Doran remembered by his hometown
[The WW2 Whitehaven 'Book of Remembrance'
(Bottom): Cpl james Doran & family headstone
Whitehaven Cemetery, Cumbria
Corporal James Doran from Whitehaven Cumberland (now Cumbria) served in the RAF from 1935 until he lost his life in April 1940. Corporal Doran was reported missing in action and subsequently presumed killed in action while on operational duties to Stavanger, Norway. At the time of his death, Corporal Doran was 22 years old.
For additional information click on 'Comments' below.
posted by ritsonvaljos at 5:33 pm
3 Comments:
Additional information
(a) Some biographical information
Corporal James Doran was born in 1917, the second son of William Doran and Mary Rebecca Doran (nee Lewis). William and Mary had married in 1914 and their other children were John Lewis (born 1914), William (born 1919), Mary Rebecca (born 1921, died 1927), Bernard (born 1923), Harold (born 1926) and Dennis (born 1929, died 1930).
During the Second World War, the Doran family home was at 104 Bransty Road, Bransty, Whitehaven. The Doran family headstone in Whitehaven Cemetery commemorates William Doran (died 1943), his wife Mary (died 1971) and the 3 of their children who died before them..
This is what is written on the headstone:
"In Loving Memory of
WILLIAM DORAN
Died 21st Feb. 1943, aged 57 years.
Also his wife
MARY REBECCA
Died 16th May 1971, aged 78 years
And their children
MARY
Accidentally killed 3rd Feb. 1927, aged 6 years
DENNIS
Died 20th April 1930, aged 5 months
CPL. JAMES DORAN
Reported missing over Stavanger, Norway,
14th April 1940, aged 22 years.
R.I.P."
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(b) Corporal James Doran, RAF
CWGC citation
Casualty Details
Name: DORAN, JAMES
Initials: J
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Corporal
Regiment/Service: Royal Air Force
Unit Text: 50 Sqdn.
Age: 22
Date of Death: 14/04/1940
Service No: 535553
Additional information: Son of William and Mary Doran, of Whitehaven, Cumberland.
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: Panel 21.
Memorial: RUNNYMEDE MEMORIAL, Surrey (UK)
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(c) The loss of a Hampden and four brave lives
The loss of James Doran and his fellow crewmates is mentioned by W.R. Chorley in his first volume on Bomber Command losses of WW2 (1939 - 1940) published in 1992. At 22.15 h on the night of 13 / 14 April a Hampden I bomber (L4065 VN) of 50 Squadron (No 5 Group) took off from RAF Waddington, Lincolnshire. Its intended role was sea mine-laying (known as 'gardening') in support of the Norwegian campaign. This strategy was later regarded as one of RAF Bomber Command's wartime successs. This sortie was right at the beginning of that chapter of Bomber Command's history.
Hampden I bomber L4065 never returned to base. Later, it was believed to have crashed into the sea off the Lincolnshire coast near Mablethorpe, with the following casualties:
Flight Lieutenant Robert James Cosgrove
Sergeant Frederick William Batchelor
Sergeant Gordon William Everatt
Corporal James Doran
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(d) Other airmen lost on L4065 VN
CWGC citations
(i) Flight Lieutenant Robert James Cosgrove:
Casualty Details
Name: COSGROVE, ROBERT JAMES
Initials: R J
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Flight Lieutenant
Regiment/Service: Royal Air Force
Unit Text: 50 Sqdn.
Age: 25
Date of Death: 14/04/1940
Service No: 39456
Additional information: Son of the Hon. Robert Cosgrove, M.H.A., Premier of Tasmania, and Dame Gertrude Ann Cosgrove, D.B.E., of West Hobart, Tasmania, Australia.
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: Panel 4.
Memorial: RUNNYMEDE MEMORIAL, Surrey (UK)
****************
(ii) Sergeant Frederick William Batchelor
Casualty Details
Name: BATCHELOR, FREDERICK WILLIAM
Initials: F W
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Sergeant
Regiment/Service: Royal Air Force
Unit Text: 50 Sqdn.
Age: 27
Date of Death: 14/04/1940
Service No: 563051
Additional information: Son of William George and Edith Mary Batchelor;
Husband of Hilda Jessie Batchelor, of Ipswich, Suffolk.
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: Panel 11.
Memorial: RUNNYMEDE MEMORIAL, Surrey (U.K.)
******************
(iii) Sergeant Gordon William Everatt:
Casualty Details
Name: EVERATT, GORDON WILLIAM
Initials: G W
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Sergeant
Regiment/Service: Royal Air Force
Unit Text: 50 Sqdn.
Age: 19
Date of Death: 14/04/1940
Service No: 580714
Additional information: Son of Capt. E. Everatt, R.A.S.C., and Mrs. M. Everatt, of Manchester.
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: Panel 14.
Memorial: RUNNYMEDE MEMORIAL, Surrey (U.K)
*******************
(The pilot, F/Lt Robert Cosgrove was the son of the Hon. Robert Cosgrove, Premier of Tasmania and Dame Gertrude Cosgrove).
--------------------------
(e) Dedication
Dedicated to the memory of Corporal James Doran and all the crew of Hampden I bomber L4065.
"Lost on operations to Stavanger"
Their flight was long o'er both land and sea,
With but one aim, to keep all Europe free,
Amongst the best lads of Bomber Command,
They passed instead into the Promised Land,
Upon hearing Gabriel's trumpet call,
In the light of God they await us all.
(December 2011)
=========================
Acknowledgements:
Chorley, W.R. (1992), "Royal Air Force Bomber Command Losses of the Second World War",
(Vol. 1, 1939 - 1940),
Redwood Books, Trowbridge, Wilts.
ISBN 0 904597 85 7
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
***********************
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