Second World War - Lynsted Memorial Project

Frederick PAYNE (of Norton)

b. 9th December 1914
d. 6th June 1942. Aged 27

Sergeant Observer, Service Number 1293749
Royal Airforce Voluntary Reserve
Coastal Command

Norton Churchyard
Killed in a flying accident during a training exercise

Headstone for Frederick Payne in Norton Churchyard CWGC


Portrait of Frederick Payne of NortonFrederick was born on 9 December 1914 in Eastling, the youngest of the seven children of James, a fruitman, and Esther Ellen (née Young). At the time of the 1939 Register Frederick was living along with his parents at 2 Little Rushett, Norton, where he was working as a poultryman.

Frederick was the observer on his Beaufort II AW306/K from No 5 RAF Operational Training Unit, Turnberry, Scotland, that took off at 6.49am on 6 June 1942. It failed to return and it was speculated that the plane had descended through cloud into the sea.

At first it was reported that the pilot, Sergeant Horatio Herbert Morris had survived. However, his body was washed ashore at Baleshare, North Uist on 25 June 1942. The bodies of Sergeants Samuel Hunter and Donald Campbell Smith were not recovered and they are remembered on the Runnymede Memorial. Frederick's body was recovered and returned to his family on the day on which he was due to be married. Frederick is buried in Norton Churchyard on 9 July 1942.

The Society is indebted to Sue Middleton, Frederick's Great Niece, for her assistance and permission to use the portrait photograph.

Frederick Payne in civvies

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