Aircraftman 2nd Class William James Sydney Jones Heap (1123746) served in the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve during World War Two. William had lived at 40 Glendower Street, Belfast, Co. Down. He was the husband of Margaret Campbell Heap of Hendon, Middlesex.
Aircraftman Heap died at 1640hrs on 12th March 1942 aged 26 years old. He was a Wireless Operator onboard Blackburn Botha L6314 from No. 3 School of General Reconnaissance at Squire’s Gate, Blackpool, Lancashire. It crashed in bad visibility on the cliffs at Burro Meanagh between Cronk ny Arrey Laa and Port Erin on the Isle of Man.
| Last Name | First Name(s) | Rank | Role | Information |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aarts | Bernardus Maria | Flight Sergeant | Royal Netherlands Naval Air Service. | |
| Dobson | Leonard | Pilot Officer | Pilot | RAF 113417. |
| Heap | William James Sydney Jones | Aircraftman 2nd Class | Wireless Operator | RAF 1123746. |
| Storey | Leonard Charles | Flight Sergeant | Pilot | RAF 928608. |
| Williams | John Albert | Pilot Officer | Wireless Operator | RAF 112721. |
Locals found the wreckage of the plane 2 days later. Contemporary reports suggest the rescue party had to secure the wreckage to the cliff face before recovering the airmen’s bodies. Afterward, the rescuers pushed much of the wreck over the cliffs. Scattered fragments still remain strewn across the cliffs and down to sea-level.
William James Sydney Jones Heap’s grave is in Section A2, Grave 230 of Dundonald Cemetery, Dundonald, Co. Down.