Sgt Thomas Joseph Delaney 798558 RAF (NFLD)

[Paul Squires]

Hi All,

I have a question about Sgt Thomas Joseph Delaney 798558 RAF, of Plancentia, Newfoundland, killed April 12, 1942, 107 Sqn. Boston W8355 shot down into the sea off France by flak. He is listed as an Air Gunner in most sites, but an article from the Hamilton Spectator reproduced on the Canadian Virtual War Memorial site shows "Sergeant T.J. Delaney, of Newfoundland", as a graduate pilot from #6 SFTS. He is certainly wearing pilots wings in the photograph.

https://www.veterans.gc.ca/en/remembran ... il/2278446

Is it possible this was another T.J. Delaney from the Dominion of Newfoundland? As he is RAF there are no records for him in the Canadian Second World War Service Files – War Dead, 1939 to 1947 to access the check his records.

Of note, in They Shall Grow Not Old, he is listed as a Pilot Officer, but his serial number is for an enlisted man (from the block assigned to the Dominion of Newfoundland). Again, could this be confusion with another T.J. Delaney?

Any ideas?

All the Best,

Paul
Wetaskiwin

[Temujin]

This record shows that the man shot down, was a WO/AG…….still searching to see if I can find anymore info

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[Temujin]

Found more info. I’m still checking…….I look at the file of Jack Francis Connelly (he survived and was a POW) hoping it told me more but no joy

And it looks like he was just posted into 107 Squadron the day before (11 April 1942). He came from 125 Squadron. I’ll check that out also

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[Temujin]

Found the record with 125 (Newfoundland) Squadron RAF. This confirms he was indeed with 125 Squadron, was posted to 107 Squadron on the 10 April 1942, arrived on the 11 Apr 1942 and his first mission with 107 Squadron on the 12 Apr 1942

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[Temujin]

This first article is dated 12 Jun 1943……so is NOT our man

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This ‘seems’ like our man……but he’s a pilot???? So without a service number attached, I wouldn’t say it was

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The only way to solve this puzzle 100% is to get his service files ????

BUT my gut tells me he was Sgt Thomas Joseph Delaney 798558, Royal Airforce (VR) and almost all the records back us up on that

[Temujin]

NO. 6 SERVICE FLYING TRAINING SCHOOL DUNNVILLE, go to Course 18: January 16 - March 29, 1941

(Note: owner of the website below does not like to have his information used on other sites without his permission)

https://rcafdunnville.blogspot.com/2013/01/

[Temujin]

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Source: https://www.baaa-acro.com/crash/crash-d ... r-3-killed

The Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A) was established in Geneva in 1990 for the purpose to deal with all information related to aviation accidentology.

[pborbey]

Thank you for sharing all this information. Thomas was my great Uncle. I visited his resting place last month and he is buried beside the pilot of the aircraft Sgt Hatton, and there are 2 separate headstones. However records state that this is a joint grave. If it isn’t inappropriate to ask, would anyone know what exactly that means? Thank you

[BFBSM]

Joint graves are those which are for more than one person, i.e. he is sharing the grave with Sgt. Hatton.

[Paul Squires]

Hi All,

Sorry for the delay in replying and Thanking all those who responded. For some reason I could not log into the site.

Well, from the information, I think there might well have been two T.J. Delaney's from Newfoundland. One, Sgt Air Gunner Delaney who was killed, and the other a commissioned pilot. And the entry in TSGNO is an combination of the two men, as is the image that started all this.

Again, Many Thanks to Temujin and the other commentors.

All the Best,

Paul Squires
Wetaskiwin