Sgt James McKee and the Crew of Blenheim P6955
Sgt James ‘Jim’ McKee (755598) Navigator (Observer) in Blenheim V P6955 of 101 Squadron, was killed along with his crew on an operation to Boulogne, France on the night of 8/9th September 1940. He was 25 years old.
His parents, Robert, who was a shipwright and Joyce nee Rowell, lived at 17 Rosebery Avenue, South Shields. He was their only child, born in South Shields in 1915. The couple had married in South Shields in 1914.
On the 1939 Register they were living at the above address. Dad, Robert was born 1889 and Joyce 1890. James was born April 10th 1915. He was at that time, in the RAF, as Assistant Maintenance Support at the rank of LAC.
James was in the Scouts as ‘Rover Mate of the 3rd South Shields (St Michael’s) Group.
He is listed on a NALGO Memorial plaque ( National and Local Govt Officers Association) in the foyer of the Town Hall.
Shields Gazette 25/9/1940
Former Shields Official A War Victim:
Formerly assistant to the Maintenance Superintendent at South Shields Corporation Transport Department, Sergt. Observer James McKee, 17 Rosebery Avenue, South Shields, has lost his life as the result of enemy action. His body has been washed ashore, on the East Coast of England.
Aged 25, Sergt. Observer McKee, is the first employee of the Transport Department to lose his life, through enemy action in this war.
He joined the staff in August 1937, when the tramway system was converted to trolley bud and was held in high regard by his colleagues. Before then, McKee was employed on the technical staff of Messrs. Reyrolle & Co. Ltd and had attended Rutherford College, Newcastle. Shortly before the outbreak of war, he joined the Volunteer Air Reserve and was called up a few weeks later.
His body is being brought to South Shields for burial.
Shields Gazette 26/9/1940
Spitfire Gifts For Flowers:
Instead of sending floral tributes to the funeral tomorrow, of Sergt. Observer James McKee, of Rosebery Avenue, South Shields, mourners are asked to give donations to South Shields Spitfire Fund. This request is made by the parents Mr & Mrs R. McKee, of the same address.
Sergt. Observer McKee, whose body was washed ashore on the East Coast of England, was formerly Assistant to the Maintenance Superintendent of South Shields Corporation Transport Dept.
The funeral will take place at Harton Cemetery, following a service in St. Michael’s Church at 2.15pm.
Newcastle Chronicle 28/9/1940
Formerly assistant to the Maintenance Superintendent of South Shields Corporation Transport Dept., Sergt. Observer James McKee of Rosebery Avenue, South Shields, has lost his life off the East coast, the body being recovered from the sea.
Educated at Westoe Secondary School and at Rutherford College, Newcastle, Sergt. McKee enlisted in the RAF shortly before the outbreak of war.
General Alan Brooke, CIGS, had issued the codeword Cromwell on September 7th 1940. There was a large build up of enemy barges in the Channel ports. This codeword meant ‘Invasion Imminent’.
The first bombing raid against the invasion fleet, took place on the night of 7/8th September 1940.
The next was on the 8/9th September 1940. Bomber Command sent 133 aircraft to targets at Hamburg, Bremen, Emden, Ostend and Boulogne. 8 aircraft failed to return. 2 Blenheims and 2 Wellingtons disappeared without trace into the Channel. 21 airmen were lost in the Channel.
Two Blenheims were lost without trace from 101 Squadron. P6955 and R2788 pilot Sgt CW Cooke still missing, Sgt Cyril James Day, Observer, still missing and Sgt Robert Nettleton Spencer W/Op Air Gnr. still missing. James McKee of South Shields was the only one to be found. His pilot, Esmond John Palmer, still missing and W/Op Air Gnr Sgt Stanley Keable Booth, still missing. They are remembered on the Runnymede Memorial.
James and the crew took off from RAF West Raynham, Norfolk at 21h20, specifically on a bombing mission on shipping in Boulogne harbour, where the barges were lined up, in preparation for Operation Sealion. Looking at the 101 Squadron ORBs for that night, I noticed other aircraft destined for this target, from the same squadron, reported icing up at lower altitudes of 4,000 and 7,000 feet. They returned to base, without reaching the target. It will never be known if it was enemy action or severe weather, that caused their deaths.
On September 11th Churchill gave a speech in which he said, “ There are now considerable gatherings of shipping in the German, Dutch, Belgian and French harbours. Behind these clusters of ships are barges and very large numbers of German troops awaiting the order, to go on board and set out on their very dangerous, uncertain voyage across the seas. We cannot tell when they will try to come”.
On September 13th it was reported that Calais had 266 vessels, Boulogne 150 and 20 small ships, Le Havre 255 and 6 Steam torpedo boats, merchant ships and motor boats.
It was a frightening prospect, with Fighter Command battling for Air Superiority, which they successfully attained on the 15th September. Hitler cancelled Operation Sealion.
Operations of James and Crew August 1940 101 Sqn
14th August Blenheim P6955 Duty Z.141
Take off 22:30 land 01:40
Bomb load 12×40 2×250 2x4hr delay action
3 Fires started in a triangular shape.
19th August Blenheim P6955 Target Soatbero
Take off 20:40 land 00:03
Bombs dropped adjacent to searchlights. Unable to locate primary target, owing to thick cloud.
21st August Blenheim P6955 Duty Z 53
Take off 21:08 Land 23:15
Returned owing to unfavourable weather, severe electro storms. Reached point 10 miles from Dutch coast. Bombs jettisoned in sea.
24th August Blenheim P6955 Target Hingene
Take off 00:30 land 03:15
2×250 delay 12x40lb. A/Gnr saw 2 blinding flashes. Suggest might have hit small explosive target.
30th August Blenheim P6955 Target Morlaix
Take off 00:42 land 03:59
Target not located, abandoned task.
6th September Blenheim P6955 Target Foret de Guines (possible ammo and stores dump)
Take off 20:14 land 23:09
2×250 delay 6×40 60×4 2×25 incendiary bombs.
Foret de Guines not attacked; haze and intense searchlight activity in target area prevented crew locating it
8th September Blenheim P6955 Target Boulogne Shipping in Harbour
Take off 21:20 did not return.
The Crew
F/Lt Esmond John Palmer (37981) Pilot – son of Herbert Edwin Keith and Gertrude Ada Palmer. Husband of Elsie May Palmer, Wakefield, Yorks.
St Albans School Gazette, reported his death in 1941:
‘We also deeply regret to announce that no news has been received of F/Lt EJ Palmer of the RAF, who was reported missing in September 1940, and must now be presumed to have been killed in action. He set out on an operational flight, on a night on which there was a lot of enemy activity, and everything points to his having been shot down in the sea. A letter from his Squadron Leader speaks of the profound regret with which he heard the news that Palmer was missing and continues :- His loyalty, courage and skill on operations and his work in this squadron, gave been very much appreciated. He has always been extremely popular with both officers and airmen.’
‘Palmer was a day boy from St Albans. He entered the school in May 1921. He became Lance Corporal in the OTU with Certificate “A” and won his Shooting Colours in the Bisley VIII. He also gained his 2nd XV Colours. He won the Under 16 Mile and Steeplechase in 1926 and again in 1927, these victories securing him in both years the Under 16 Challenge Cup. On leaving school in 1927, he spent some years farming in W. Australia; on his return to England he joined the RAF in June 1936 and on the outbreak of war was posted to a Bomber Squadron. He was married in Wakefield Cathedral 16th July 1938 and a daughter was born September 13th 1940’.
His daughter never met her Dad.
Esmond was born April 17th 1911 in Meerut, Bengal where his Dad was a Gunner in a Battery of the Royal Horse Artillery. He is remembered on Runnymede
Sgt Stanley Keable Booth (550339) Wireless Operator /Air Gunner. 21y – Son of Edward and Dorothy Keable Booth, Shrewsbury, Shropshire.
Stanley was born in 1919 in Atcham, Shropshire – mother, Keable.
Shrewsbury Chronicle 18/10/1940
Sgt Stanley Keable Booth aged 21, w/op/a/gnr in the RAF, elder son of Mr &Mrs E Booth, Malston, Kemps Eye Ave., Shrewsbury, has been reported missing after operations. He took part in the first flight over Germany, and had also flown to Norway and Finland. Before joining the RAF, he was taught etching and posterwork at Shrewsbury Technical College and he had done some creditable work. It was believed that this would be his career, but after working in the Shrewsbury Chronicle process department for a short time, he saw the Mount Everest Flight film and thus influenced him to join the RAF. He has played football for his Squadron as goalkeeper, and once ran against the international runner, Sweeney.
He lived at Malstan Holmside, Links Road Shrewsbury.
Stanley is remembered on the Runnymede Memorial.
All of their names are inscribed on the Roll Of Honour in the Battle of Britain Chapel, in Westminster Abbey. It contains the names of 1,497 pilots and crew – 732 of which were Bomber Command airmen.
Source:
Findmypast
Battle of the Barges Steve Darlow Sept. 1 2020
Fortress Britain 1940 Andrew Chatterton 2024
National Archives Kew
CWGC
British Library Newspapers
Written and Researched by Dorothy Dickson Ramser November 2025