207463 Sgt. Bert Frederick Hoskins Royal Air Force 76 Squadron from:Kentish Town, London (d.16th Jun 1942) My uncle, Bertie Hoskins, was part of the RAF 76 Squadron in WW2. He was a tail gunner (rear gunner) in Halifaxes. In 1942 he was based at Middleton St George.
He had flown many raids over Germany including the famous 1000 bomb raid over Cologne and was also involved in bombing the Tirpitz in the Fjords.
After all that activity his fate was when returning from a training mission. As the Halifax flew in to Middleton St George on 16th June 1942 it appears the plane wing clipped a tree causing an engine to catch fire. The plane crash landed. All but Bertie managed to get out. The crew tried to save him but could not return to the now crashed plane. When rescuers eventually got to Bertie he was still alive but lost his life as he was transferred to a local hospital.
I was in contact with someone who is in contact with a member of that crew who remembers that crash very well and how poor Bertie was so unlucky that day. Alas I have lost contact, but cherish how he recalled the events of that fateful day.
It would be great if I could find pictures from Bertie's time in the RAF or to hear from anyone who has relatives living from that squadron who may remember him. I would love to have met him but that was not to be.
He was only 22 like so many of the men and women serving their country who lost their lives too young. He will never be forgotten. From a very proud niece.
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