Early Life
John Edward Hulland (known as Jack) was born 29 June, 1922 in Bishopsteignton, Devon.
Flight Sergeant J E Hulland
Son of Edward Charles and Ethel May Hulland (née Taylor). Jacks father Edward was born in 1898 in Exeter and moved to Cockhaven Street, Bishopsteignton around 1911 with his parents Charles, Kate, brother Thomas Henry and his two sisters Florence May and Laura Kathleen. Edward Hulland served in WWI as a private in the Labour Corps, and later became a bricklayer. Ethel was born in 1901 in Evershot, Dorset. Edward and Ethel married in April 1922 and they moved to 2 Puner Cottage, Bishopsteignton. Jack was born the same year.
They later moved to 6 Radway Street, Bishopsteignton.
Jack worked as an apprentice plumber before he joined the R.A.F.[1]
Military Service
622 Squadron RAF Badge
John Edward Hulland was in the reserve aircrew of the Royal Auxiliary Air Force, which operated as a bomber squadron of the RAF during World War II.
Jack with his crew
He served in the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, as a Flight Sergeant (Air Gunner) in 622 Squadron, 1410959.
Jack & Sammy
The 622 Squadron was based at RAF Mildenhall in Sussex and operated in Bomber Command’s main force as part of No 3 Group.
Bomber Command 3 Group
622 Squadron RAF
It was equipped with Stirling Mk. III and Avro Lancaster Mk. I and Mk.III bombers.[2]
Avro Lancaster I
Whilst at RAF Mildenhall Jack had a girlfriend called June who also worked at the air base as a photograph interpreter.[3]
J Hullands Girlfriend June
Jack with his crew
Death and Burial
Jack Hulland and the six other members of the aircrew departed from RAF Mildenhall at 21:57 on Thursday, 19 April 1945.
The crew of PA285
(Credit Stuart Charlton)
They were onboard an Avro Lancaster (type I, with serial PA285 and code GI-O), their target was an oil depot at Regensburg, Germany.[4]
RAF Bomber Command Report
The aircraft was hit by flak and seen going out of control as five parachutes were observed to leave the Lancaster. It is reported that three of the bodies were found in the wreckage, whilst three had been electrocuted on an overhead electric cable, Jack being one of those.
PA285 RAF Crash Report
The aircraft crash landed in Burgweinting, which is a short distance SE of Regensburg. Only Flight Sergeant E. Parker survived to return to the UK on 12 May 1945. Out of 100 aircraft sent to that particular target that night, PA285 was the only one that did not return.
Place of Burial
RAF PA285
John Edward Hulland died at the crash site on 20 April, 1945.
Hulland Grave inscription
Burial
Durnbach War Cemetery.
Bayern, Germany.
Plot 5. G. 21.[5]
Temporary grave of JE Hulland
Tribute to an Air Gunner
Tribute to an Air Gunner
Descendants
Jacks parents Edward and Ethel received several telegrams to 53 Radway Street, Bishopsteignton.
Telegram of missing RA285
Letter of condolence from King George
Jacks parents remained in the area for rest of their lives. Edward passed away December, 1967.
Many of the details above were provided by Mrs Hazel Hunting (née Back), the cousin of Jack. Hazel was the daughter of Lewis Back and Ivy Lillian Taylor, the sister of Ethel May. Ethel’s mother, Emeline Taylor (née Back) lived at 4 Cockhaven Street, Bishopsteignton with Hazel and Ivy in 1939. Ethel passed away in June, 1980 in Bishopsteignton. Hazel married James Hunting from Teignmouth. Hazel passed away in 2005 and James soon after in 2009.
L-R Hazel Back, Emeline Germon, Ivy Taylor, Bridget Channing.
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John Edward Hulland is remembered by the village of Bishopsteignton.
Hulland Memorial