| Date | March 1943 |
|---|---|
| Reference | EE01-0034 |
| Volume | Eton Excelsior Rowing Club, Volume 1 |
| Collection | Eton Excelsior |
Transcript
Airman Killed
Flt-Lieut. M. M. Wayman
News was received this week by Mrs. Pauline Wayman. “Lurley”, Dawes East Road, Burnham, that her husband, Flight-Lieut. Michael Myers Wayman, had died after a successful operational flight.
Only a short time ago, they had spent a week at Dawlish and while there, Flight-Lieut. Wayman received the official intimation that he had been awarded the D.F.C.
He was well known in this district as a member of the Eton Excelsior Rowing Club, and in the seasons 1937 and 1938 [error in newspaper] successfully stroked the junior fours.
His father, Colonel Myers Wayman, is the Mayor of Sunderland, and Mr. H. J. Way, of Thames Street, Windsor, is his uncle. He was at one time a pupil in his uncle’s silversmith business in Thames Street and lived with Mr. and Mrs. Way at St. Leonard’s Hill Lodge.
His wife is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. H. J. Cork, and he and his wife had lived with them since their marriage three years ago.
Two of Mrs. Wayman’s brothers are in the forces, Lieut. R. J. Cork, D.S.O., D.F.C., a Fleet Air Arm ace, and Lieut. B. J. Cork, of the Royal Horse Artillery. The funeral takes place today at Sunderland.
Images
![Newspaper article titled 'AIRMAN KILLED' reporting the death of Flt-Lieut. M. M. Wayman after an operational flight, including details about his family and accomplishments. [P1011968A]](https://i0.wp.com/windsorlocalhistorygroup.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/P1011968A.jpg?ssl=1)
Curator's Notes
A collection of 52 items at the IDCC concerns Flight Lieutenant Michael ‘Mike’ Myers Wayman (89359 Royal Air Force) and contains an album, documents and photographs. He flew operations as a pilot with 21, 90 and 139 Squadrons and was killed on 20 Mar 1943. Available CC BY-NC 4.0. [source: IBCC Digital Archive]
On 3 Mar 1943: Mosquito DE 373 Target ‐ Molybdenum Mines in Knaben, Norway. Pilot with F/O Gordon Sampson Clear as Observer. Precision bombing raid. Awarded the DFC along with his Observer. [source: IBCC Digital Archive]
Wayman was recorded in The London Gazette as “Flight Lieutenant Michael Myers WAYMAN (89359), Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, No. 139 Squadron (since deceased).” [source: The London Gazette]
Piloting a de Havilland Mosquito (DZ496) that sustained flak damage over enemy territory. He and his observer, Flight Lieutenant Gordon Sampson Clear, DFC, were killed when the aircraft crashed during a landing attempt at RAF Martlesham Heath. [source: Aviation Safety Network]
Michael, who was 28 years old and a member of the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve (139 Sqdn), is buried in Ryhope Road Cemetery in Sunderland (7.BB.1716). [source: CWGC]
He was one of eight members of the Eton Excelsior Rowing Club killed in action during the Second World War. The EERC Scrapbook Digitisation Project is dedicated to them. [source: WLHG website]
Born 15 Jan 1915, Sunderland. Married to Pauline Cork in 1939. [source: Ancestry.co.uk]
Curator's References
“Wayman, Mike” on the International Bomber Command Centre (IBCC) Digital Archive [accessed 30 Ul 2026]
“Wayman M M Mosquito DZ496” on the Aircrew Remembered website [accessed 30 Jul 2026].
“Flight Lieutenant MICHAEL MYERS WAYMAN” on the CWGC website [accessed 30 Jul 2026].
Third supplement to The London Gazette of 23 Mar 1943, supplement 35954, page 1413. [accessed 30 Jul 2026]
“Mosquito DZ496 (Saturday 20 March 1943, 19:25)” on the Aviation Safety Network website [accessed 30 Jul 2026].