Lewis, James Frederick Byng

Killed in Flying Accident 1940-04-14

Birth Date: 1919

Born:

Son of David Llewellyn Lewis and Margaret Lewis, of Morden, Manitoba, Canada.

Home: Morden, Manitoba

Enlistment:

Enlistment Date: Unknown

Service

RAF

Unit

40 Sqn- Squadron

Base

Rank

Leading Aircraftman

Position

Leading Aircraftman

Service Numbers

644842

Home
Google MapMorden, Manitoba
First Burial
Google MapRunnymede Memorial Surrey, Uk
40 Squadron (Hostem A Coelo Expellere). BROTHER to David Earl Lewis. LAC. Lewis took a Blenheim aircraft on a solo flight to Norway and did not return. He had a Canadian pilot's license but didn't take it with him when he joined the pre-war RAF. Due to his poor financial situation he was almost forced to join the RAF - but as groundcrew with a promise to remuster to aircrew. The war started and all trades were frozen. He was frustrated in his attempts to remuster after returning from France to the United Kingdom. LAC. Lewis took off in a Blenheim to prove he could fly. He did some low flying over the Officers Mess at lunch time before setting off for Norway. One witness to the event was S/L. George D. Hill of Lucky Lake, Saskatchewan and now of Kelowna, British Columbia.

Canadian Virtual War Memorial

Library and Archives Canada Service Files (may not exist)

Blenheim L9207

Leading Aircraftman Lewis, James Frederick Byng (RAF)
Pilot
Killed in Flying Accident
1940-April-14
Runnymede Memorial Surrey, UK

Bristol Blenheim

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3602838)
Bristol 142M Blenheim Mk.V, RAF (Serial No. DJ702).
Blenheim.jpg image not found

The Bristol Blenheim is a British light bomber aircraft designed and built by the Bristol Aeroplane Company (Bristol) which was used extensively in the first two years and in some cases throughout the Second World War. The aircraft was developed as Type 142, a civil airliner, in response to a challenge from Lord Rothermere to produce the fastest commercial aircraft in Europe. The Type 142 first flew in April 1935, and the Air Ministry, impressed by its performance, ordered a modified design as the Type 142M for the Royal Air Force (RAF) as a bomber. Deliveries of the newly named Blenheim to RAF squadrons commenced on 10 March 1937. Wikipedia

YouTube Bristol Blenheim Bomber

Wikipedia Bristol Blenheim

General Harold A Skaarup Web Page