Sgt. Peter John Masini
Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
from:Stanford Hill, London
(d.17th Oct 1941)
The first photo shows three RAF men. Sergeant Peter John Masini is the tallest man to the left, the others are unknown. The man to the right could be John Masini his brother but the shorter man in the centre is unknown.
The wedding group show the Groom Peter John Masini and his Bride Constance (Connie) Dillon who were married in October 1941 at Edmonton, London. The name of the RAF Best Man and the names of the bridesmaids are not known.
Peter Masini died two weeks later on 17 October 1941 in a Plane Crash at Faringdon Road, Kingston Lisle, Berkshire, whilst on active service. Family papers tell that he and the crew were buried at Harwell Cemetry Didcot. I am trying to find details of the crash and the crew. Seven names appear on the War Graves Commission site as dying on 17 October and being buried there but I cannot be sure these men were the crew with Peter Masini. Any in formation would be gratefully received.
A sad but no doubt a familiar story for WW2 of which I have only a sketchy outline after finding a letter among my Grandmother's effects. Peter's father, Leading Aircraftman John James Masini, who was at the time of 1941 serving with the RAF Photographic Section, Moreton In Marsh, Gloucestershire wrote that his son had married 2 weeks ago Connie Dillon but had sadly died on the 17 October 1941 when, as part of the crew on active service, their plane had crashed at Faringdon Road, Kingston Lisle, Berkshire. He said that Peter was to be buried on 22 October 1941 at Harwell Cemetry, Didcot, Berkshire and that the rest of the crew would also be buried there. Peter's Death Certificate (copy) states that death was from "shock consequent upon multiple injuries and burns sustained through an aeroplane of which he was a member of the crew on active service falling to the ground, accidental death". Two inquests were held on 20th October and 1st December 1941 by the Coroner for the Wantage District of Berkshire.
I have tried to find more information of the crash and crew without success. The Coroner's Records have been destroyed. Local papers appear not to have published the crash as they were on active service. I am also unaware of which type of plane they were flying, their mission and from which airfield they operated. I have photographs of a happy group of young men in RAF uniform and a happy wedding photograph of the bridal couple. I assume both were taken 2 weeks before he died. I wonder if the group was the crew and would like to know their names.
If anybody can give me any more details I would be very grateful. I have also not been able to find information on Peter's father's role in the Photographic Section of the RAF. What was his job, did he take photographs (I know he was a photographer) or did he interpret photos taken on missions.
