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Watkins, Frank Vernon Died

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Personal Information

Rank P/O
Forename(s) Frank Vernon
Surname Watkins
Gender M
Age 20
Decorations MiD
Date of Death 20-12-1942
Next of Kin Son of Frank Arthur and Annie Watkins, of Ruawai, Auckland, New Zealand.
WATKINS FV

Aircraft Information

Aircraft Vickers Wellington III
Serial Number Z1660
Markings GT-

Memorial Information

Burial/Memorial Country Germany
Burial/Memorial Place Reichswald Forest War Cemetery
Grave Reference 8. E. 18.

IBCC Memorial Information

Map
Directions to panel 260
WATKINS FV

Location

Row -
Panel 260
Column -
Line -

Directions From the Chadwick Centre, take the central path towards The Spire.

Phase 2
Panel Number 260

Enlistment Information

Service Number 404847
Service Royal New Zealand Air Force
Group 8
Squadron 156
Squadron Motto We light the way
Trade Pilot
Country of Origin New Zealand

Other Memorials

Location St. Mary Magdalene Church, Warboys, Cambridgeshire
Country United Kingdom
Memorial Type Stained Glass Window & Inscribed Slate Tablet
Memorial Text We light the way" This tablet is placed in memory of Flight Lieutenant JL Sloper DFC and Bar, RAFVR. And in tribute to all who served with 156 Squadron Path Finders Force at RAF Warboys, 1942-1945, In gratitude.
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Location Tithe Farm, Warboys, Cambridgeshire
Country United Kingdom
Memorial Type Brick Pillars and inscribed Metal Plaques
Memorial Text From this RAF Station Warboys 156 squadrons No 8 (PFF) group, marked targets for Bomber Command 1942-1944
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Miscellaneous Information

He was born in Dargaville, on the North Island of New Zealand, but grew up in Ruawai, a small farming community located a few miles away. After completing High School, Watkins moved to Wellington where he worked for the Native Lands Office. At the age of 18, he enlisted on 1 December 1940. Watkins sailed for Britain in June 1941. He was initially posted to 106 Squadron RAF where he flew five operations on Manchesters, and one with OTU, and then 21 operations flying Wellingtons with 150 Squadron based at Snaith, Yorkshire.[4] Watkins was then chosen for the recently formed pathfinders, joining 156 Squadron RAF on 1 December 1942. He was now an experienced and above average captain. (Source: Military Wiki)
In Carter's letter to Rivett-Carnac, he wrote: "Had he not been so devoted to his friend he could have saved his own life by leaving the dying [bomb aimer] to his fate. Yet he refused to do this and attempted the alternative crash landing ... his life was forfeited in the crash ... He willingly and selflessly gave his life in a forlorn effort to save his friend ... his actions were the most outstanding example of ... sacrifice. I am inspired by his memory". Recommending a Victoria Cross for Watkins, Rivett-Carnac mentioned his unquestionable and unequalled courage in the face of death was considered worthy of the highest award that can be made by His Majesty the King. It was noted that from the evidence of Carter's letter that Watkins had displayed the highest qualities as a captain of an aircraft. Firstly, he ordered those members of the crew who could be of no further assistance to him to bale out, and then waited until the last moment before he ordered the navigator to bale out, when in his own mind he considered that he would be forced to make a crash landing. It would appear that at no time did the question of his own safety enter Warrant Officer Watkin's mind. Group Captain Kirkpatrick, Commanding Officer of RAF Station Wyton, added his comments the same day, stating: "I heartily endorse the Squadron Commander's recommendation that the highest award be granted Warrant Officer Watkins. It was clear that he went to his death in an attempt to land knowing full well the heavy odds against his doing so in a badly damaged aircraft, in enemy territory, and at night, but hoping that the Bombardier might after all be alive, and that he might possibly effect a landing and thereby save his comrade's life. This act of unselfish sacrifice, cool devotion to duty and astonishing courage, in my opinion deserves the highest recognition by the award of the Victoria Cross". The recommendation was sent to the Air Ministry, but because the supporting evidence was insufficient at that time, it was deferred for further investigation when Carter and the rest of the surviving crew were repatriated from prisoner of war camps after the end of the war in Europe. It is not known if the crew were actually interviewed, but Watkins ultimately received only a posthumous Mention in Despatches, published in the London Gazette of 13 June 1946 (with effect from 20 December 1942). At the time, the VC and Mentions in Despatches were the only military gallantry awards made posthumously. (Source: Military Wiki)

Commonwealth War Graves Commission

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The National Archives

Record of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/1041/22
Summary of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/1041/22

Fellow Servicemen

Please note that this list gives all the losses aboard the quoted aircraft and occasionally these may have occurred on an earlier date when the aircraft was not itself lost. Please check the dates of death carefully.

Name Outcome
Brooke-Norris S W (P/O) Died

Last Operation Information

Start Date 20-12-1942
End Date 21-12-1942
Takeoff Station Warboys
Day/Night Raid Night (97% moon)
Operation Duisburg. 232 aircraft, 12 losses (5.2%). Clear conditions lead to much damage
Reason for Aircraft Loss In a letter written from Stalag Luft III on 5 January 1943 to the commanding officer of 156 Squadron, Tommy Rivett-Carnac, Carter described how they'd taken direct flak directly over the target, with the bomb aimer Bill Brook-Norris being severely wounded. Watkins and Brook-Norris had flown together for some time and had become close friends. Carter stated that they had intended to inject the wounded airman with morphine and then launch him from the aircraft by parachute. While preparing for this, the Wellington was hit again and suddenly the aircraft was too low and out of control. The rest of the crew had already jumped when Watkins ordered Carter out and said he was staying. The Wellington crashed shortly afterwards killing both Watkins and Brook-Norris. Watkins and Brook-Norris were found in the crash remains in the target area and now lie together in the Reichswald Forest Cemetery. (Source: Military Wiki)

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Casualty Pack

IBCC is delighted to introduce a unique facility to link the Losses Database to the relevant RAF Casualty Pack on the National Archives website. This project is the result of on-going collaboration between IBCC, the MOD Records Office and National Archives, Kew. This document describes what Casualty Packs are, when they were created, the process of making them available to the public and then goes on to describe the process by which you can view the contents of the packs. Casualty Packs (CPs) were created by the RAF whenever there was serious injury or loss of life associated with operational activity within the RAF. This includes operational flying losses, enemy action due to air raids, road accidents either on station or even off-station if they involved RAF vehicles. Deaths due to natural causes in service or accidents that did not involve RAF vehicles did not generally give rise to a CP.

CPs were originally given a unique reference number by the RAF. Each begins with the letter ‘P’ and is followed by six digits, then an oblique (forward slash) and the finally the year in which the incident took place- for example P396154/42.

The CPs are in the process of being made available to the general public as they are passed from the MOD Records Office, Portsmouth to National Archives, Kew. This process requires some rework to the files which is very time consuming, so the process of making them all available to National Archives will take several years. They are being made available in increasing date order.

Once CPs arrive at National Archives they are assigned a unique AIR81 number, so each CP has both a P-number and an AIR81 number. Both are searchable on the National Archives website under ‘Search the catalogue’ and both are included on the IBCC website.

The AIR81 reference on the IBCC website is a link to the file on the National Archives website. When you click on it, the relevant page will open in a new tab on your browser.

There is currently no plan to digitise AIR81 files, partly because they are fragile and partly because the information they contain can at times be sensitive, even harrowing, since they may contain exhumation reports and even photographs of corpses. Family members wishing to read the AIR81 files relating to their ancestors are advised to exercise caution and be guided by National Archives warnings where appropriate.

There are two means for accessing AIR81 files- to attend in person or to order a copy by post.

To attend in person, the attendee should first create a Reader’s Ticket. This can be done online by following this link: https://secure.nationalarchives.gov.uk/login/yourdetails. Then click on the AIR81 reference on the IBCC website and click Order in Advance. Enter your Reader’s Ticket number and state the date on which you intend to visit. National Archives will have the file ready for you when you arrive, saving you time. When you visit Kew, you must quote the Reader’s Ticket number and take along two forms of ID- one bearing your signature and one bearing your address. When you view the files, you are permitted to take photographs of each page, should you wish.

Alternatively, if you wish to order a copy by post, please be aware that there is a charge for this service based on the number of pages in the file. Click on the AIR81 reference on the IBCC website and then click Request a Copy. There is an £8.40 charge for National Archives staff to access the file and give you a quotation for the copying service. The process takes around 24 days to complete and can be expensive.

IBCC wishes to thank the staff at the MOD Records Office and National Archives for their engagement and assistance in making this facility available to our website users.