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Hunt for past of tragic war pilot
MORE than 60 years after a wartime tragedy claimed his life, can the story of a South Shields-born airman be pieced together?
That's the hope of Dennis Burke, in County Sligo, Ireland, who is putting together the history of this episode, which happened off the Irish coast.
The airman was Sgt David Purvis, of the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, who was a member of the crew of a Sunderland Flying Boat of 422 Squadron, Royal Canadian Air Force, when it was lost on May 25, 1943.
The aircraft got into difficulties and crashed into the sea not far from Clare Island on Ireland's west coast. All 11 men were killed but only seven bodies were recovered. David Purvis's was not among them but his name is remembered on the RAF Memorial at Runnymede.
Sadly, says Dennis, there is no record of any of David's next of kin.
He has discovered that there were three men called David Purvis who were born in the South Shields district between 1917 and 1924 – the most likely age group.
One, born in 1920, was possibly lost with the Merchant Navy in 1942. Another, born in 1924, may have died many years after the war.
It leaves a David Purvis, born in 1917, as a possible candidate.
His parents might have been David and Catherine Purvis (nee Botto) from Jarrow.
"If they were his parents, then they also lost a son named Joseph with the Army in 1940," says Dennis.
"I'm hoping to put together a history of the crew of this aircraft and to this end have found some relatives already.Others have raised a memorial on Clare Island to the memory of this crew.
"If anyof your readers might be relatives or friends of this David Purvis,I wouldbe delighted to hear from them."
You can write to Dennis at Cloonacool,Tubbercurry, Co Sligo, Ireland or e-mail: dp_burke@yahoo.com
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Weather for South Shields
Tuesday 07 February 2012
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: -3 C to 6 C
Wind Speed: 9 mph
Wind direction: South west
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