Hugh Christopher Corbett was born in 1918 the son of Adrian and Nita Corbett.

Hugh joined the Royal Air Force and after training  became a pilot with 53 squadron.

At the time, 53 squadron was stationed at Detling and flying Blenheim light bombers.

On the evening of the 3rd August 1940, at 19:48, Pilot Hugh Christopher Corbett , along with Navigator Kenneth Walter Crane , and Observer Sydney Eric Riddington, took off from RAF Detling in Blenheim L9475.

53 Squadron

Their mission was a night attack against shipping in Emden Harbour, Germany.

Tracking of the aircraft showed that at 00:45 hours it was flying out at sea north of Bircham Newton, Norfolk. However, wireless transmission from the Blenheim broke off abruptly at 01:05 hours on the 4th August 1940. All three crew members were killed as the aircraft crashed into the sea.

Sydney Riddington's body was recovered from the sea and returned home. He is buried in Thurmaston Cemetery. Pilot Officer Corbett's body was carried across the sea and was later washed ashore in Holland on the 29th of August 1940. Hugh Corbett is buried in Schoorl General Cemetery, Holland.

The body of Sergeant Crane was lost to the sea, and is commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial.

F/O Hugh Corbett is buried at Schoorl General Cemetery, joint grave 228.

 

(picture courtesy of Wim Bastiaanse)

Nederweert, The Netherlands

See also:

Other casualties of 53 Squadron buried in the Netherlands

Acknowledgments:

Thurmaston Military Indexes

Directions to Schoorl General Cemetery

Posted 23 February 2010



If you have any suggestions, comments or additional information, please contact me.

This website is dedicated to the men and women who died and/or are buried in The Netherlands during World War II.

 

Home | Search | Research | About