Pembrokeshire aviation historian researches unknown airman buried in Manorbier
For well over 80 years a white war grave headstone has marked the resting place of an unknown airman in a Pembrokeshire churchyard – the headstone inscribed ‘An airman of the 1939-1945 war, an officer RAF’.
The airman, identified as an officer and wearing pilot’s wings, was washed ashore at Skrinkle Bay, Manorbier, on 12th October 1941 and was buried four days later in Manorbier churchyard.
Now a Pembrokeshire aviation historian has been diligently researching aircraft losses in the Bristol Channel sea area to try and put a name to the mystery airman.
Malcolm Cullen of Marloes, a founder member of the Pembrokeshire Aviation Group, began his research following contact made to Pembroke Dock Heritage Centre by an Australian, Douglas Ritchie. His uncle – also called Douglas – was lost when piloting a twin-engined Blenheim over the Irish Sea on 28th August 1941.
Although there was strong censorship during wartime, local newspapers did report a coroner’s court hearing. Reports referred to the airman wearing RAF design battledress ‘of dark blue colour similar to that of the Royal Australian Air Force’. This prompted Mr Ritchie to wonder if this might be his uncle.
Malcolm has traced losses of several aircraft in the same sea areas, including that of an Anson trainer based in North Devon, which came down off Hartland Point, Devon, on 27th August 1941. All four crew were lost. Two were washed ashore on Pembrokeshire beaches – on 30th September at Newgale and 12th October at Marloes Sands – while a third was recovered on the Cornish coast. All were identified.
The pilot, Sous Lieutenant Karol Sapieha-Kodenski of the Free French Air Force, remains missing.
Said Malcolm: “The references to a dark blue uniform pointed to an Australian connection but Free French airmen also wore dark blue. Taking into account tidal currents, the gulf stream and prevailing wind direction I believe that Douglas Ritchie’s body, if it came ashore, was likely to wash up on a beach north of the Llyn Peninsula.
“I have been looking into these aircraft losses for several years and I strongly believe that the Manorbier airman is Lieutenant Sapieha-Kodenski. In an attempt to prove my belief an extensive report has been submitted to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission who will decide.”
Malcolm has also been researching Lieutenant Sapieha-Kodenski’s family history which has proved very enlightening. He was a Prince in his own right with French and Polish connections.
Of all the war graves in Pembrokeshire cemeteries just two are listed as ‘unknown airmen’ – the one at Manorbier and a second at Llanion town cemetery, Pembroke Dock.
The Llanion airman was buried on 21st October 1941. Malcolm believes he was found at Bullslaughter Bay on the Castlemartin range.