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Southworth, Vincent Reginald Woodburn, son of Reginald Edward Southworth, advertisement man. Odhams Press Ltd, and Dorothy Alice Mary, d. of Walter Dillam of Saskatchewan; b. 28 Feb. 1925; adm. Jan. 1939 (B); left July 1942; Sergt RAFVR; killed in a flying accident 17 May 1945.
Vincent Reginald Woodburn “Reggie” Southworth was born on the 28th of February 1925 the son of Reginald Edward Southworth, an advertising executive for Odhams Press Ltd, and Dorothy Alice Mary (nee Dillam) Southworth of Gable End, Bushey Heath in Hertfordshire. He was educated at Westminster School where he was up Busby’s from January 1939 to July 1942. While he was at the school he produced one of the house plays. On leaving school he worked at the Gainsborough Film Studios until he was old enough to join the armed forces. He enlisted in the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve where he trained as an air gunner and rose to the rank of Sergeant. He took part in operations on Berchtesgaden and on the Skoda Works at Pilsen.
Vincent Southworth and his crew took off from RAF East Kirkby on the 17th of May 1945 in Lancaster Mk I RF124 LE-S for a training exercise. The crew had recently joined 630 Squadron. The aircraft was flying over Wednesfield near Wolverhampton when it experienced engine trouble. It was seen descending rapidly with smoke coming from its engines and it is thought that the pilot was attempting a forced landing in a large field to avoid some houses. As the aircraft approached the field it struck overhead high voltage cables and crashed onto Lichfield Road, Wednesfield at 5.15pm where it exploded violently, causing a five foot crater and scattering the wreckage over a large area. All on board were killed.
The crew was: -
Flying Officer Bernard Hall (Pilot)
Flying Officer Victor Francis Dobell Meade (Air Bomber)
Flying Officer Ronald James O’Donnell (Flight Engineer)
Sergeant Gordon Leonard Rabbetts (Wireless Operator)
Sergeant Vincent Reginald Woodburn Southworth (Mid Upper Gunner)
Sergeant John Alfred Sills (Rear Gunner)
Sergeant Reginald Harry Smith (Navigator)
He is commemorated on the war memorial at Bushey.
He is buried at Watford North Cemetery Section A, Cons. Grave 1213.
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Sergeant 1813035; 630 Squadron, Royal Air Force
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International Standard Archival Authority Record for Corporate Bodies, Persons and Families - ISAAR(CPF) 2nd edition
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Prepared for import into AtoM by Westminster School Archive staff, 2019-2020. Updated by Bethany Duck, Archives Assistant, September 2022.
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Sources
The Record of Old Westminsters: A biographical list of all those who are known to have been educated at Westminster School from Play 1919 to Election 1989, Volume 4, compiled by F.E. Pagan and H.E. Pagan, Padstow, 1992.
Westminster School Second World War Memorial by John C. Hamblin, 2022.