John Richard Archer
In 1939, John Richard Archer worked at Raleigh as a cycle crank viewer.
- Family History
- Military history
- Extra information
- Photographs
John Richard Archer was the son of William and Esther Archer and the brother of Howard, Florry and Esther Archer. In 1939, they lived at 329, Hucknall Lane, Nottingham.
In 1942, John Archer and Elizabth Smelt were married at Nottingham and they had two children - John and Faith. They lived at Old Radford, Nottingham.
NOTTINGHAM NORTHERN CEMETERY Sec. L/22. Grave 9.
Archer lost his life during the first of three Spilsby Airfield accidents:
On Easter Monday 10 April 1944, during the preparation for an operation, a 1,000 lb (450 kg) bomb exploded while it was being disarmed in a fusing shed. Ten squadron armourers were killed, three of whom were never found and have no known grave. The force of the explosion also caused damage to some of the airfield's buildings and even some slight damage in the nearby community. Some have expressed surprise that no NCO was among the casualties, since at least one should have been present in the Fusing Shed.
The second accident happened on 1 November 1944. During 207 Squadron's daylight departure on sorties, a Lancaster piloted by Flying Officer Arthur Loveless swung violently on take-off and careered across the airfield. It demolished a Nissen hut before coming to rest among four Halifaxes belonging to 429 'Bison' Squadron (RCAF) which had been diverted to Spilsby from the previous night's operation. The Lancaster and three of the Halifaxes were destroyed by explosion and fire. A fourth Halifax was severely damaged and its Flight Engineer killed when he started the engines with the intention of getting clear of the inferno. Once again a number of the airfield's buildings were damaged with the control tower having a narrow escape.
A few days later on 11 November, a further tragedy befell Spilsby airmen when returning home from an operation. Two Lancasters – one from 44 Squadron, flown by Pilot Officer Garyer, and one from 207 Squadron – received identical landing instructions from the Spilsby control tower and collided in the approach funnel over the village of Bratoft, east of the airfield, killing both crews and scattering debris over a large area. This led to revised approach procedures being implemented with aircraft being allocated specific time slots to prevent overcrowding in the circuit.
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John Richard Archer's headstone at Nottingham Northern Cemetery.
Photo: David Nunn
Stone commemorating the blast which took John Richard Archer's life.
Photo: David Nunn
Plan of 1939-45 RAF Spilsby. Note remote location of the bomb dump.
Photo: David Nunn (displayed on modern memorial)
Wartime RAF Spilsby remembered with stone Morse Code V for Victory.
Photo: David Nunn