Russell James Bridgeman
Rank Flight Sergeant.
Service number 579194.
Regiment RAF.
Date of death 20 February 1961.
Age 34.
Grave reference Sec. A. Ex 3347.
Russell James Bridgeman was born on the 27th December 1926, his birth was registered at Newmarket, Cambridgeshire. He married Hetty Fynes in the last quarter of 1960, the marriage took place in the Barton Upon Irwell district. Hetty was of a similiar age and born locally in 1927, she atteneded as a girl Eccles Grammar School. Her parents lived at 7 Enfield Road, Swinton. The funeral courtege left from this address.
Bridgeman attended the Soham Grammar School, Cambridgeshire, he was known as "Rusty". He joined the RAF as a "Boy Entrant". At the time of death he was engaged with the Technical Training Command Communications Flight at RAF Wyton, Huntingdonshire.
At some point whilst in the RAF Bridgeman travelled and lived in South Africia. He arrived back in England on the 5th August 1949 aboard R.M.S Pretoria Castle of the Union Castle Mail Steamship Company Limited. The vessel sailed from Durban South Africia via Capetown where Bridgeman boarded the ship and Madeira. He states his last country of residence as South Africia, proposed address in the United Kingdom 14 Martin Road, Burwell, Cambridgeshire.
Bridgeman met his wife at the RAF Recruiting Centre Cateaton Street Manchester, where he was based for three years, he interviewed thousands of entrants for the RAF. Hetty was a Ministry of Labour Official at the RAF Medical Board Centre in Julia Street, Manchester.
Bridgeman an experienced flyer had previously flown Sabre Jets in Germany before his posting to Manchester. He decided to return to flying and in September 1960 attended a refresher course. On completion of the course the couple married and the happy pair left for a Mediterranean honeymoon in Majorca. They returned to live in Huntingdonshire where Brigeman resumed his flying career.
His death occured when an Avro Anson plane we was flying on crashed into North Barrule Mountain ( in fog ) on the Isle of Man on the 21st February 1961. The aircraft was destined for RAF Jurby, Isle of Man. All six crew members perished , each death due to multiple injuries. Their bodies were taken to Ramsay and arrangements for burials made from there.
Sergeant Bridgeman's remains were taken then to Woodford, Cheshire, from there to an RAF chapel at St. Helens. Later taken to Enfield Road and from there escorted by RAF men to St. Augustine's Church, Pendlebury where the funeral service took place. The service was conducted by the Reverand J.S. Hannon vicar of Swinton and attended by numerous RAF officers and airmen, . RAF pall-bearers escorted the body to Swinton Cemetery where the coffin draped with a Union Jack and bearing the pilot's cap was saluted by a firing party.
Crew Members:
Wing Commander J. L. Aron, Brampton Huntingdonshire.
Squadron Leader C. Heseltine, Brampton Huntingdonshire.
Flight Lieutenant H.D. Furness, Bedford.
Flight Lieutenat B.H. Miller, Huntingdon.
Master Technician E.N. Robinson, Brampton.
Flight Sergeant R.J. Bridgeman, Cambridge.
Wreckage from the plane was found approximately 300 ft from the top of the mountain which itself is nearly 2 000 ft in height.
Close to the crash site is the wreckage of a B17 Flying Fortress which crashed in 1945, the worst aviation accident to happen on the Isle Of Man and only two weeks before the end of WW2.
B17G - 38856 of 381 Heavy Bombardment Group 533rd Squadron, RAF Ridgewell Essex, crashed into the side of the mountain on the 23rd April 1945. The aircraft was ferrying servicemen to Nutts Corner in Northern Ireland for a rest period. 31 American servicemen died.
Rank Flight Sergeant.
Service number 579194.
Regiment RAF.
Date of death 20 February 1961.
Age 34.
Grave reference Sec. A. Ex 3347.
Russell James Bridgeman was born on the 27th December 1926, his birth was registered at Newmarket, Cambridgeshire. He married Hetty Fynes in the last quarter of 1960, the marriage took place in the Barton Upon Irwell district. Hetty was of a similiar age and born locally in 1927, she atteneded as a girl Eccles Grammar School. Her parents lived at 7 Enfield Road, Swinton. The funeral courtege left from this address.
Bridgeman attended the Soham Grammar School, Cambridgeshire, he was known as "Rusty". He joined the RAF as a "Boy Entrant". At the time of death he was engaged with the Technical Training Command Communications Flight at RAF Wyton, Huntingdonshire.
At some point whilst in the RAF Bridgeman travelled and lived in South Africia. He arrived back in England on the 5th August 1949 aboard R.M.S Pretoria Castle of the Union Castle Mail Steamship Company Limited. The vessel sailed from Durban South Africia via Capetown where Bridgeman boarded the ship and Madeira. He states his last country of residence as South Africia, proposed address in the United Kingdom 14 Martin Road, Burwell, Cambridgeshire.
Bridgeman met his wife at the RAF Recruiting Centre Cateaton Street Manchester, where he was based for three years, he interviewed thousands of entrants for the RAF. Hetty was a Ministry of Labour Official at the RAF Medical Board Centre in Julia Street, Manchester.
Bridgeman an experienced flyer had previously flown Sabre Jets in Germany before his posting to Manchester. He decided to return to flying and in September 1960 attended a refresher course. On completion of the course the couple married and the happy pair left for a Mediterranean honeymoon in Majorca. They returned to live in Huntingdonshire where Brigeman resumed his flying career.
His death occured when an Avro Anson plane we was flying on crashed into North Barrule Mountain ( in fog ) on the Isle of Man on the 21st February 1961. The aircraft was destined for RAF Jurby, Isle of Man. All six crew members perished , each death due to multiple injuries. Their bodies were taken to Ramsay and arrangements for burials made from there.
Sergeant Bridgeman's remains were taken then to Woodford, Cheshire, from there to an RAF chapel at St. Helens. Later taken to Enfield Road and from there escorted by RAF men to St. Augustine's Church, Pendlebury where the funeral service took place. The service was conducted by the Reverand J.S. Hannon vicar of Swinton and attended by numerous RAF officers and airmen, . RAF pall-bearers escorted the body to Swinton Cemetery where the coffin draped with a Union Jack and bearing the pilot's cap was saluted by a firing party.
Crew Members:
Wing Commander J. L. Aron, Brampton Huntingdonshire.
Squadron Leader C. Heseltine, Brampton Huntingdonshire.
Flight Lieutenant H.D. Furness, Bedford.
Flight Lieutenat B.H. Miller, Huntingdon.
Master Technician E.N. Robinson, Brampton.
Flight Sergeant R.J. Bridgeman, Cambridge.
Wreckage from the plane was found approximately 300 ft from the top of the mountain which itself is nearly 2 000 ft in height.
Close to the crash site is the wreckage of a B17 Flying Fortress which crashed in 1945, the worst aviation accident to happen on the Isle Of Man and only two weeks before the end of WW2.
B17G - 38856 of 381 Heavy Bombardment Group 533rd Squadron, RAF Ridgewell Essex, crashed into the side of the mountain on the 23rd April 1945. The aircraft was ferrying servicemen to Nutts Corner in Northern Ireland for a rest period. 31 American servicemen died.
© Susan Tydd 2010
Please do not reproduce without permission
Please do not reproduce without permission