An Unusual & Exceptionally Complete R.A.F. Bomber Command, 21 Squadron Casualty
(Lockheed Ventura Mk1)
Aircrew Europe Trio.

To:
1544208. AIR GUNNER. J.N. KELSALL R.A.F.
KILLED-IN-ACTION 21st April 1943.

"Neil" Kelsall was a native of Cheadle Hulme in Cheshire. Having joined the RAF in 1942 he had trained as an Air Gunner at 10 A.O.S. at RAF DUMFRIES in Scotland. He had been posted to No.21 Squadron on the Lockeed Ventura Mk1, a rather outdated American light bomber aircraft. He and his fellow crew members apparently became very close. His pilot, F/O G.B. CHIPPENDALE from Blackburn, Lancashire, had only been recently married and had invited his crew, Neil Kelsall, Flt/ Sgt H. Hudson and P/O A.W. Richmond to the wedding.
On the 21st April, several aircraft from 21Sqd were tasked to undertake a daylight attack on the railway marshalling yards at Abbéville in Northern France. This was always going to be a very difficult and heavily defended target as it was only a few miles from the main Luftwaffe airfield also at Abbévillle.

Predictably perhaps, the Venturas were attacked over the target by FW190 fighters with three aircraft lost and twelve crew members killed.
This being a daylight raid, Neil's aircraft was seen going down into the sea with it's tail section having been shot off by the FW190 fighter. The aircraft was also seen on the surface of the sea but without sign of any survivors.

Owing to the raid being only partly successful this was a heavy price to pay. Shortly after the loss of the aircraft, and at a time when it was by no means clear or certain if there had been any survivors from the Chippendale crew, the newly married Mrs Chippendale and F/O Chippendale's sister wrote several touching and supporting letters to the Kelsall family, three of which are included with this grouping.
TELEGRAM OF 21st APRIL 1943
detailing that Neil Kelsall was "Missing on Operations"

Also included are two ops' book copies detailing the raid & the loss, the original Air Ministry death notification letter and the Commonwealth War Graves temporary grave marker picture, a specimen grave naming design request document, the Royal Condolence letter, the original named medal condolence slip and a later final interment CWG confirmation letter.

Also included is the 1914-15 trio & Defence Medal of Neil's father, M2-047886 Pte J.(Jack) Kelsall A.S.C. (Jack Kelsall was attached to the R.A.M.C.in WW1 ) and served in the Home Guard during WW2. With his school attendance medal (silver) & a rare home guard uniform patch & Union Jack victory flag. THE TWO GROUPS
SOLD