Sumpter, Stephen Roderick
Personal Information
Rank | F/L |
Forename(s) | Stephen Roderick |
Surname | Sumpter |
Gender | M |
Age | 27 |
Decorations | Malaysian Service Medal |
Date of Death | 30-01-1968 |
Next of Kin | Son of William Samuel & Millicent Alice Joyce Sumpter of North Finchley, London; brother of Andrew Sumpter. Husband of Jill M. Sumpter (née Speller), whom he married in July 1962. Father of Candida Sumpter and Gareth Sumpter. |
Aircraft Information
Aircraft | Avro Vulcan |
Serial Number | XM604 |
Markings |
Memorial Information
Burial/Memorial Country | United Kingdom |
Burial/Memorial Place | St Nicholas's Churchyard, Cottesmore, Rutland |
Grave Reference | |
Epitaph |
IBCC Memorial Information
Phase | Post-War |
Panel Number | POST (not yet erected on site) |
Enlistment Information
Service Number | 4230905 |
Service | Royal Air Force |
Group | |
Squadron | 9 (IX) |
Trade | Navigator (Plotter) |
Country of Origin | United Kingdom |
Other Memorials
Location | Church of St. Nicholas, Cottesmore, Rutland |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Inscribed Wooden Board |
Memorial Text | In memory of most of the crew of Vulcan XM604 - 30th. January 1968 |
Location | Church of St. Nicholas, Cottesmore, Rutland |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Inscribed Stone Tablet |
Memorial Text | This chapel is dedicated to the memory of the officers and men of the British and American forces stationed at Cottesmore who gave their lives for freedom, 1939-1945, The way of life goeth upward. |
Location | Village Green, Bardney, Lincolnshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Stone Memorial, Propeller and Plaque |
Memorial Text | In memory of the killed or missing of IX Sqd. 1939 - 1945 |
Miscellaneous Information
Last fatal aircraft loss in the service of Bomber Command |
Stephen joined the RAF in 1960. He flew in Canberras during the Malaysian emergency. |
Ironically, Stephen was born in North London during the Blitz (Dec 1940). He attended Woodhouse Grammar School, North Finchley, where he excelled in maths and physics (A Levels). These subjects secured his selection for air crew and he was offered a commission in The RAF as a navigator. He joined almost directly from school (approx 1959) and was posted to RAF Thorney Island for training. He married in July 1962 and was posted to RAF Laabruch (BFPO43) to 16 Squadron in August of the same year, flying in Canberras in a photo reconnaissance role. He and his wife lived off camp with a German family as he was too young for married quarters. His daughter Candida was born in Germany in 1965. During this posting he was seconded to Penang during the Malaysian Emergency (January 1965, for 3 months). He returned to the UK shortly afterwards and was posted to RAF Finningley for retraining on Vulcans. Thereafter he was posted to IX Squadron at RAF Cottesmore where he was on 'Cold War' standby duty, until his death due to a Vulcan training accident in January 1968, four days after the birth of his son Gareth. |
Fellow Servicemen
Last Operation Information
Start Date | 30-01-1968 |
End Date | 30-01-1968 |
Takeoff Station | Cottesmore |
Day/Night Raid | Day |
Operation | |
Reason for Loss | During routine training flight, aircraft suffered in flight structural failure. Two crew escaped but rear crew were killed when it crashed at Cow Close Farm, Burley nr Cottesmore, Rutland |