Edward Merry

Name : Edward Merry

Rank : Sergeant Pilot

Ser. No. : 933067

Dates at Cranage : Sept 1942 - 30 Jan 1943

Navigation Course

I received an e-mail on Monday 1 July, 2013 from Mr Ted Merry, letting me know his father had been at Cranage in 1942 - 43.

Dear Mr Singleton,

I was just looking at the website for RAF Cranage, and was impressed by how much work has been put into it. Obviously you have been working with available information, but I noted that data on my father was not present. He was transferred to CNS at RAF Cranage in September 1942 and flew from there until the end of January 1943. He was the pilot for a night navigation exercise on 30th January in Anson L7964. After take-off the weather deteriorated very quickly and the aircraft crashed at Longdown Farm, Great Kimble, Buckinghamshire, with the loss of all on board. If you are interested I can supply you with more information.

Yours Sincerely,

Ted Merry

After a couple more message on the 2 July Ted kindly sent me some photographs of his father, a copy of the crash report, a letter from the Air Historical Branch (RAF), M.O.D. and some images from his service record. You can see these below.

Added below, on 10 October, are the photos from the dedication service at Princes Risborough, Buckinghamshire.

Edward Archibald Merry was born on the 6 November 1914 at 46, Berkshire Street, Kingston-upon-Hull, East Yorkshire. At some point the family moved and the new home was in 27, Wood End Gardens, Sudbury Hill, Greenford, Middlesex. Edward attended Christ’s College Finchley and was working as a Meat Salesman when he was mustered in on 3 July 1940.

Edward pictured with his sister VeraEdward and Ellen on their wedding day 12 May 1941, Hanwell, Ealing.It is believed that Edward met his wife Ellen while they both worked at Sainsbury's.A family anecdote is that his wedding to my mother had to be delayed by 2 hours while an unexploded bomb which had hit the church was dealt with.Basic training 1940Flying training in Rhodesia 1941Receiving his wings December 1941In serviceM.O.D. letterService record 1Service record 2Crash report 1Crash report 2Early in September Sgt/Plt Edward Merry’s son Ted attended the dedication of the memorial to the ten airmen, of three aircraft that crashed in WWII at Princes Risborough, Buckinghamshire. The photographs below were taken on the day. For those interested in, and able to visit, the memorial, it is located in front of the Princes Risborough library.Early in September Sgt/Plt Edward Merry’s son Ted attended the dedication of the memorial to the ten airmen, of three aircraft that crashed in WWII at Princes Risborough, Buckinghamshire. The photographs below were taken on the day. For those interested in, and able to visit, the memorial, it is located in front of the Princes Risborough library.Early in September Sgt/Plt Edward Merry’s son Ted attended the dedication of the memorial to the ten airmen, of three aircraft that crashed in WWII at Princes Risborough, Buckinghamshire. The photographs below were taken on the day. For those interested in, and able to visit, the memorial, it is located in front of the Princes Risborough library.Early in September Sgt/Plt Edward Merry’s son Ted attended the dedication of the memorial to the ten airmen, of three aircraft that crashed in WWII at Princes Risborough, Buckinghamshire. The photographs below were taken on the day. For those interested in, and able to visit, the memorial, it is located in front of the Princes Risborough library.Early in September Sgt/Plt Edward Merry’s son Ted attended the dedication of the memorial to the ten airmen, of three aircraft that crashed in WWII at Princes Risborough, Buckinghamshire. The photographs below were taken on the day. For those interested in, and able to visit, the memorial, it is located in front of the Princes Risborough library.Early in September Sgt/Plt Edward Merry’s son Ted attended the dedication of the memorial to the ten airmen, of three aircraft that crashed in WWII at Princes Risborough, Buckinghamshire. The photographs below were taken on the day. For those interested in, and able to visit, the memorial, it is located in front of the Princes Risborough library.Longdown Farm, Great Kimble, Buckinghamshire as it is today. A local gent guided Ted to this spot, thought to be the location of the crash<>