Son of Guy and Florence Needham, of 390 Park St., Chatham, Ontario, Canada. Flt. Sgt. Needham was the brother of Mildred and Shirley at home and Capt. W. L Needham RCAMC, serving overseas.

Guy was born in Chatham 25 years ago. Educated at Central School and the Chatham Collegiate Institute. He entered the Army, 17 April 1941 and trained at BTC 12 Training Centre – Chatham. Later he would transfer to the RCAF in September of 1941. He trained at the Manning Depot Toronto, won his ‘Sparks’ at No. 3 Wireless School – Winnipeg and his wings from No. 7 Bombing & Gunnery school – Paulson, MB. Three months of operational training was done at Greenwood NS. Sgt. Needham at the end of December 1942 

Guy was reported leaving Chatham after a furlough, to begin his Operational training Unit at Greenwood Nova Scotia.

The CDN 30/06/44 reported that the youngest son of Guy and Florence received the following:

“Flight Sgt. Guy R. Needham is for “official purposes” listed as presumed dead”. 

A CDN 4/07/44 article reported to have come in one of the last letters before his death as follows:

During one of the routine flights and while flying over the ocean, trouble developed in one of the engines. The plane was unable to continue with just one motor and crashed into the sea but not before Flight Sergeant Needham, who was stationed at the wireless put through a hurried message to their base telling of the crew’s difficulties and their position.

In a matter of seconds after the plane hit the sea the crew were in the water and climbing into a rubber dinghy in time to see their plane sink beneath the waves. No panic was shown by the airmen and they were able to gain the safety of the dinghy without any casualties 

After drifting in the ocean for seven long and lonely hours, beneath hot sun, the airmen sighted a ship in the distance. The loss during the crash of an emergency pack which contained facilities for attracting the attention of ships and aircraft, left the men quite helpless, their only hope being that the ship would see and hear their frantic yelling and waving.

Finally, just at sundown the ship sighted the men, and picked them up. Dry clothing and hot drinks and food were given to the four airmen and they were taken to the nearest port, where they spent a few days in hospital before returning to their base none the worse for their narrow escape. 

Sadly the ending is not always with the best outcome. JRH.

Age: 25, KIA – Date of Death: 23/08/1943. While Beaufort bomber  # JM 499 enroute from Porteath, England to Ras El Ma, Algeria the aircraft went missing. Besides WO2 Needham, F/O G. Rattee and WO J. L. Perkins and a airman not Canadian were MIA and presumed killed. Guy was the wireless operator on JM 499.

A search for the missing aircraft was made from Gibraltar and Port Lyantey but found no trace of the aircraft after which the crew was posted as “missing”.

 

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Sources	Found in Chatham Fire Fighters 1944 Field Day Booklet 7 to 12/08/1944., Index of Overseas Deaths. They Shall Grow Not Old.
Supplemental Information	Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead, Grave/Memorial Reference: Panel 180. Memorial: RUNNYMEDE MEMORIAL.

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