Bill Chorley wrote in Volume 7: In respect of the amendments to Volume 7, invariably all entries that refer to airmen who hailed from New Zealand, whether they were serving with the Royal New Zealand Air Force, or on short service commission with the Royal Air Force, have their origins in material kindly supplied by Errol Martyn. Thus, instead of presenting the amendments in as brief a form as possible, I have taken advantage of Errol's fulsome notes and report the amendments in as much detail as possible.
Similarly, David Gunby's excellent account of the history of 40 Squadron, published by Pentland Press in 1995, under the title, Sweeping The Skies has been the source for material mentioning this famous Royal Flying Corps/Royal Air Force squadron. I am, of course, extremely grateful to everyone who has sent me additional material; without your support, these amendments would be much the poorer.
OTU/012 12/P2273 Add: P/O Barnett was the younger brother of Wing Commander Denis Barnett (later Air Chief Marshal), who commanded 40 Squadron between 4 June and 23 December 1940. [Chorley 26/08/07]
OTU/013 13/L9039 Amend crew matrix and summary. The crew matrix should read :
Sgt A E Hall +
Sgt A C Catton +
Sgt F Graham +
LAC G H James +
Summary to read after Hartland Point-base: "Left the formation, in cloud, banking gently though believed to have been in level flight when at around 1120 the Blenheim flew unchecked into Carnedd Llewellyn, some 6 miles SSE of Bethesda, Caernarvon. At over 3,000 feet, Carnedd Llewellyn is the third highest mountain in Snowdonia. It is believed the pilot may have been dazzled by the sun as he emerged from the overcast. All are buried in in cemeteries within the United Kingdom." [Alan Clark via Chorley 14/07/08]OTU/016 12/K9481 Add: T/o 1000 Benson.
OTU/016 12/L4977 Add: T/o 0945 Benson. Crashed at around 1120. Both crews had been instructed to avoid rainstorms and areas where visibility was poor. The two crashes occurred as the aircraft were flying on the Exeter to Lyme Regis leg. Weather conditions in the Exeter area are reported as good, with the cloud base assessed as between 1,500 and 2,000 feet, but, according to Squadron Leader Hawkins, who was based at Exeter and who attended the accident sites, low cloud in the Sidmouth region undoubtedly covered the tops of local high ground.OTU/017 12/P2269 Delete: RNZAF after the pilot's name, both in the crew matrix and in the text. Also, take out the last sentence and replace with, "He completed his ab-initio training in New Zealand, having being accepted for a short service commission in the Royal Air Force." [Chorley 26/08/07]
OTU/017 12/L5282 Amend: P/O N C Pettit. He was killed on 26 August 1941, in Nigeria, while flying with the Fighter Defence Flight or the Takoradi Despatch Flight. He is buried at Ikoyi No. 2 Cemetery. Aged twenty, and from New Zealand, he was serving with the Royal Air Force on a short service commission. [Chorley 26/08/07]OTU/018 16/L4138 Add: P/O Rowe hailed from New Zealand, but was serving with the Royal Air Force on a short service commission.
OTU/019 12/K9420 Append to crew list
Sgt F L Anderson +
AC2 Fenwick inj
Replace summary with: T/o Benson for a gunnery exercise over Lyme Bay. At approximately 1430, the engine caught fire and P/O Denman set the Battle down into 14 to 20 feet of water off Seaton, Devon. Tragically, Sgt Anderson is presumed to have drowned and his name is commemorated on panel 11 of the Runnymede Memorial. AC2 Fenwick's injuries are reported as slight. [Mark Haycock and Air Historical Branch (RAF) 30/07/08]OTU/021 17/L9171 Amend: Hawerna (in Note) to read Hawera. [Chorley 26/08/07]
OTU/022 20/R9583 Amend: Sgt C B G Knight DFM RNZAF. He was the first Royal New Zealand Air Force airman to be injured at an Operational Training Unit, administered by Bomber Command. He was also the first RNZAF airmen to win a Distinguished Flying Medal (Gazetted 20 February 1940). His death was reported in 1998. [Chorley 26/08/07]
OTU/023 12/P2271 Add: P/O Parry came from New Zealand and, following his initial training, he joined the Royal Air Force on a short service commission in June 1940.
OTU/024 10/K9015 Add: P/O Miller came from New Zealand and had joined the Royal Air Force on a short service commission just prior to the outbreak of the Second World War.
OTU/024 12/L4943 Insert: "his first" between "for" and "solo".OTU/027 12/L9419 Delete: RNZAF after the pilot's name. Similar to P/O McIntyre (OTU page 17), he had trained in New Zealand and then joined the Royal Air Force, in July 1940, on a short service commission.
OTU/027 12/L5283 Add: P/O Paterson, a New Zealander who, in the May, had joined the Royal Air Force on a short service commission, was posted missing from operation in May 1942 (see Bomber Command Losses, Volume 3, 1942, page 89). At the time he was flying with 115 Squadron and risen in rank to flight lieutenant.OTU/028 17/L8682 Add: P/O Rockel had been accepted for a short service commission in May 1940. From New Zealand, he survived the war.
OTU/031 13/L4883 Add: His Distinguished Flying Cross had been promulgated in the London Gazette on 9 July 1940. [Chorley 26/08/07]
OTU/032 20/L7778 Add: P/O Gilmour was very serious injured and he was admitted to Kingseat Naval Hospital at Dyce. While convalescing he was promoted to flying officer, and on being declared fit to resume flying duties, he rejoined his unit. Soon afterwards, however, on 6 May 1941, he was posted to 24 Squadron.
OTU/035 12/L5432 Add: P/O Topp had trained in New Zealand and was accepted into the Royal Air Force on a short service commission during May 1940. He was killed during operations to Hamburg on 16-17 July 1941 (see Bomber Command Losses, Volume 2, 1941, page 93). Note. It now seems that "Bethridge" was his second Christian name, and not the first of a hyphenated surname.
OTU/036 15/L4230: 2nd line after "an engine failed" continue "due to icing"; 3rd line after "down" delete "at" and continue "on the summit ridge of Great Rhos [2,166 feet] above"; 5th line after "Radnor." continue "At the time of the accident Great Rhos was shrouded in mist." [Phillip Jones 22/09/08]
OTU/037 17/L4868 Insert: Sgt J M Poole (the injured member of the crew).
OTU/045 15/R1243 Sgt S H Thomson amend initials to read F H. [Chorley 26/08/07]
OTU/047 16/P2115 amend Clarke to read Clark. [Chorley 26/08/07]
OTU/051 20/R3437 Sgt G Brissenden RCAF amend G to read J. [Chorley 26/08/07]
OTU/053 20/N2885 Add: P/O Fitch subsequently flew with 40 Squadron and died during the night of 2-3 September 1941 (see Bomber Command Losses, Volume 2, 1941, page 135) when his Wellington came down in the sea off Harwich.
OTU/055 20/R1664 Amend: Sgt J F Barron RNZAF. Add: Rose to the rank of wing commander and when killed in action on his seventy-ninth sortie, 19-20 May 1944, marking the railway yards at le Mans in France, he had been richly decorated with a Distinguished Service Order and First Bar, a Distinguished Flying Cross and a Distinguished Flying Medal, the latter being gained with 15 Squadron and Gazetted on 26 May 1942. At the time of his death, aged twenty-three, he had logged 1,264 flying hours. See also 1944/227. [Chorley 26/08/07]
OTU/055 11/R3178 Amend: F/S Sayer (in the summary).OTU/060 19/K9036 Amend: P/O W H Mackley DFC RNAF. Add: P/O Mackley's award was published three days later.
Amend RNAF to RNZAF [Chorley 09/07/08, see also updates log - PPCUs]
OTU/060 19/K9036 correct P/O Mackley to P/O W B Mackley DFC RNZAF [Chorley 19/10/08]OTU/062 19/K9033 Amend: Sgt G Carman RNZAF. Add: Not long after this incident, he joined 78 Squadron and failed to return from Hüls on 6-7 September 1941 (see also 1941/139). [Chorley 26/08/07]
OTU/063 25/X3177 Sgt H Soar his rank should read F/S. [Chorley 26/08/07]
OTU/066 23/X9659 Amend: 13 Aug 1943 to read 13 Aug 1941.
OTU/073 25/P4302 Amend: Sgt R G Henderson. Add: In a letter, July 2002, Sergeant Henderson, then aged eighty seven, stated that he believes the Hampden's starboard engine caught fire. Parachuting at low-level, the canopy wrapped about him and when found he was deeply unconscious. For eleven days he remained in a coma and when, eventually, discharged from RAF Hospital Rauceby, he was downgraded to ground duties. Service at Kinloss heralded a posting to Sierra Leone and prior to his release from the service in November 1945, he was a signals instructor at Cranwell. [Chorley 26/08/07]
OTU/074 20/Z8809 Amend crew matrix to read: F/S F C N Kiteley + Lossiemouth Burial Ground, Sgt D H Budden RCAF + Lossiemouth Burial Ground, P/O R D Anderson RCAF + Lossiemouth Burial Ground, Sgt W G Chant + Tottenham and Wood Green Cemetery, F/S H J H Kitson DFM + Rhondda (Treorchy) Cemetery, Sgt J D Hogden + Pelton Cemetery, Sgt H S Dunbar inj. This accident happened at 0225, the stationary aircraft being identified as 20 OTU's Wellington IC N2824, which was damaged beyond repair and, therefore, should be entered ahead of Z8809. F/S Kitson had served with 75 Squadron and his award had been Gazetted on 22 October 1940. Sgt Dunbar died in a flying accident on 4 August 1942 (see Bomber Command Losses, Volume 7, OTUs, page 142), while continuing his training at Lossiemouth. [Chorley 26/08/07]
OTU/075 18/R3216 Delete: T/o Bramcote and insert T/o Bitteswell. Add: Sgt Zietkiewicz PAF was rescued by a motor transport driver, S W J Green, whose bravery was subsequently recognised through the award of the George Medal. [Chorley 26/08/07]
OTU/075 10/P4942 Delete: 15 December 1942 and insert 9-10 December 1942 (Please be advised that the data recorded on page 277 of Volume 3 should be amended for, as Errol Martyn advises, all fifteen passengers and crew lost their lives, somewhere between Cairo and Malta, and their names are recorded on the Alamein Memorial). [Chorley 26/08/07]OTU/079 12/R1037 Amend: Sgt C H Brumby RNZAF. Add: By the spring of 1943, Sgt Brumby was serving at 5 Operational Training Unit, a Coastal Command training establishment operating from Long Kesh in Northern Ireland with a satellite station at Maghaberry, Co. Antrim. On 23 May 1993, the Beaufort I in which he was flying (DW995) failed to return from a training exercise and his name is now perpetuated on panel 198 of the Runnymede Memorial. As a measure of the severity of his injuries, suffered at Chipping Warden, he was to spend fourteen months undergoing recovery. [Chorley 26/08/07]
OTU/080 23/Z8786 Amend: F/L R J Newton RNZAF. Add: Having attained the rank of Wing Commander, and command of 75 Squadron, W/C Newton died, with his crew, on 1-2 January 1945, while attacking the railway yards at Vohwinkel (see Bomber Command Losses, Volume 6, 1945, page 26). At the time of his death, he had been decorated with the Distinguished Flying Cross, and had been mentioned in despatches. [Chorley 26/08/07]
OTU/081 11/T2705 Amend: P/O E C Ball RNZAF. Add: After completing two tours of bombing operations (flying with 103 Squadron and 75 Squadron), F/L Ball, as he had now become, switched to Fighter Command and joined 488 Squadron at Bradwell Bay in Essex. Late in the evening of 9 October 1943, his Mosquito NF.XII HK204 crashed some six miles north-west of base, killing both members of crew. Remarkably, F/L Ball remained undecorated, despite flying fifty-seven operational sorties and logging in excess of a thousand hours of flying. [Chorley 26/08/07]
OTU/084 25/N2783 Amend: Sgt Coe's injuries were far more severe than, perhaps, indicated for as Errol Martyn writes, "he was admitted to Doncaster Infirmary and (later) transferred to the RAF Hospital Rauceby on 19 November. As a result of the accident he had two fingers amputated, a fractured right leg, and his ears and face burnt. He was discharged from hospital in January 1942. On 10 May 1942, he embarked for New Zealand on repatriation for ground duties. However, he embarked for the United Kingdom in October 1943, arriving in the December, and was accepted for flying duties. Commissioned and on his thirtieth sortie, he died, with his skipper S/L Ian George Medwin RNZAF, on 6 April 1945, when their 487 Squadron Mosquito FB.VI SZ990/E crashed shortly after take off from Rosieres-en-Santerre. Both officers were buried on 11 April at the Anzac Cemetery at Villers Bretonneux, theirs being the first interments here since the end of the First World War." For further details, please refer to Errol Martyn's second volume of For Your Tomorrow, published by Volplane Press in 1999.
OTU/085 25/L7248 Delete: L7248 and T/o Finningley for night navigation, crashing at 2245 and replace with: L7428 T/o Bircotes for a night flying test, crashing at 1632. [Chorley 26/08/07]
OTU/087 22/X9625 P/O J E Allen rank should read F/O. [Chorley 26/08/07]
OTU/089 15/R1607 add to crew: Sgt F Tolson injured; admitted to Battle Hospital Reading and thence to St. Hughes Hospital Oxford (set up in the Ladies College). Sgt Sullivan was on his first night solo flight and on return to base he undershot the runway. [Chorley 26/08/07]
OTU/093 19/N1498 Sgt C S George add DFM. After .. 12B at Blenheim.' insert: Sgt George had served previously with 10 Squadron, completing 27 operational sorties; on 30 January 1942, just a few weeks after his tragic death, the London Gazette gave notice of his award. [Mark Haycock 30/07/08]
OTU/095 20/R1646 Amendment to crew matrix and summary:
F/O J W Thomson DFC RNZAF +
Sgt M H J Kilburn +
Sgt R J Jackson RCAF +
F/S H J Kelley RCAF +
Sgt J B Riley +
Sgt B C Dickson RAAF +
Sgt R A Milliken RAAF +
Sgt W Greenbank +
Summary amendments: line 10 delete 'six' and insert 'eight', line 12 : After 'grave markers' insert new sentence: Subsequently, at the request of their next of kin, the remains of Sgt Kilburn and Sgt Greenbank were exhumed and taken to Farnham [Green Lane] Cemetery and Windemere [St. Mary's] Churchyard respectively, re-interment services being held on 23 January 1943, and in November 1942, respectively.
Note. On 21 August 2003, a memorial in the form of one of the engines from the Wellington was unveiled by HRH The Princess Royal in the centre of Braemar, next to the village war memorial. Mounted on a block of granite stone, it commemorates the crew whose names are inscribed on a brass plate fixed to the base of the memorial. This impressive structure also serves as a commemorative feature to all airmen who lives were lost in the Cairngorm mountains. [Linzee Druce 12/09/08]OTU/099 20/T2707 Add: Although unproven, it is possible (as Errol Martyn suggests) that the observer was Sgt (or F/S) D W Cross RNZAF. Posted to 20 Operational Training Unit on 7 January 1942, his biography mentions that while undergoing training, he baled out from an aircraft that had been stricken with engine trouble (the date, however, is not specified). On 7 March 1942, he was posted to the Middle East and joined 148 Squadron. His tour, sadly, was brief and he was killed during operations to Benghazi on 21-22 June 1942, while flying in Wellington IC ES990, captained by W/C D A Kerr DSO. Five of the six-man crew perished and their names are commemorated on the Alamein Memorial.
OTU/102 14/L4110 Add to summary: Tragically, having survived this awful crash Sgt Lumsdaine was killed on 6 January 1944, while serviving with 464 Sqn 2nd TAF. He is buried in Oxford [Botley] Cemetery, the cause of his death being accidental." [National Archives of Australia via Colin Bruggy and CWGC, 13/11/08]
OTU/102 21/R1329 Add: Sgt Hickman went out to the Middle East, where he joined 40 Squadron. On 11-12 August 1942, his Wellington IC HX377/A was shot down during operations to Tobruk. For the next eight days and nights, the crew managed to evade capture, but having walked for at least ninety miles towards the Allied lines, they were picked up and made prisoners of war.
OTU/107 L5282 P/O M C Pettit amend M C to read N C; from New Zealand he was an SSC in RAF. Killed 26 August 1941, while serving in Nigeria, either with the Fighter Defence Flight or Takoradi Despatch Flight. Buried Ikoyi No. 2 Cemetery. [Chorley 26/08/07]
OTU/108 23/R1597: 3rd line after "1537" delete "at" and continue "near Troed y Rhiw Farm not far from" [Phillip Jones 22/09/08]
OTU/111 15/- Add: P/O Jenner RNZAF had flown with 40 Squadron in 1941. Post war, he became an airline pilot, flying with British Overseas Airways Corporation and, later, with British Airways.
OTU/114 18/N2813 add to summary: A recovery team found the wreckage on moorland close to a deserted homestead known locally as Esgair pen y Garreg. [Phillip Jones 22/09/08]
OTU/115 25/DV841 Add in the form of a note to the summary: In 2002, I was contacted by Mr. L Henderson who, with others, has carried out a detailed investigation into the loss of this Wellington and its crew. His letter reads, "A Wellington bomber was seen by eyewitnesses from Peases West, flying from the direction of Stanley. It passed over Billy Row, smoke trailing behind it from an engine fire and it gradually lost height as it skimmed over Roddymoor, before finally crashing in a ploughed field near the ponds. A main witness was a farmer's son, who was narrowly missed as the aircraft crashed in an adjacent field. The port wing first hit the ground and the fuselage cleaned out the fence before the aircraft finally came to rest, tilted on its starboard side. The farmer (I presume the father of the witness referred to above) ran to the aircraft, where he saw one airman inside and another lying on the ground nearby. As he attempted to pull the airman from the aircraft, there was an explosion and a fire resulting in bullets exploding all around as people ran towards the aircraft. The landing wheels and the gun turret, still with the gunner inside, were thrown about two hundred yards by the explosion. All the various services eventually arrived but the aircraft was burnt out, due to its difficult position. An hour later, the geodetic construction was still smouldering and there was a strong smell of burning perspex in the air. The Army then took over from the Home Guard until the site was cleared."
OTU/116 20/Z8852 Corrections to crew matrix: Sgt B W McLennan RCAF inj, not +; Brathwaite, not Braithwaite; Bion, not Brin.
Add to summary: Four, the pilot, Sgt Brathwaite, Sgt Crompton and Sgt Bion, had been attached from 27 OTU Lichfield. Sadly, Sgt Brathwaite was killed less than a month later [see page 130] when 20 OTU detached aircraft and crews to Snaith for participation in the third 1,000 Plan raid [Bremen]. Sgt Bion, meanwhile, had displayed outstanding bravery for when the Wellington crashed and caught fire he extricated himself from the wreckage and in the course of the next few minutes helped a very dazed wireless operator to safety and then re-entered the bomber and with the help of the navigator pulled the second pilot [Sgt Brathwaite] clear. Still determined to seach the Wellington for survivors Sgt Bion, now unaided, dragged the pilot from the cockpit. Sgt McLennan, however, was terribly injured with a compound fracture of the left leg and in severe shock and within hours of the accident he died. Posted to 7 Squadron, Sgt Bion was awarded the BEM Gazetted 14 August 1942. Later commissioned he returned to Canada where he continued to serve in the postwar RCAF. [Chris Pointon, Errol Martyn and Halliday RCAF citations 15/08/08]OTU/119 11/R1065 Amend: W/O K A Dunkley RNZAF
OTU/123 14/AS904 Add to crew matrix AC1 J A Wilkinson and amend summary by deleting "as yet" through to the end of the summary, replacing with "AC1 Wilkinson was laid to rest in Leicester [Saffron Road] Cemetery." [Mark Haycock, 19/10/08]
OTU/129 12/Z8800 Amend: Sgt J W Keane RNZAF. Add: Sgt Keane RNZAF was killed when his 103 Conversion Flight Halifax crashed on 1 August 1942 (see page 17 of this volume for details).
OTU/132 22/R1036 Delete (in the summary): Fedirchyk and replace with Fedigan.
OTU/133 22/R1465 Add: after "cairn" constructed in 1980 by pupils and staff of Tredegar Comprehensive School.
OTU/135 14/X2974 Add: P/O Lyons RAAF was posted to 408 Squadron and was killed in action on 29 August 1942 (see Bomber Command Losses, Volume 3, 1942, page 200).
OTU/135 23/R1414 Delete: "Along with his skipper, who hailed from Manefield, Ohio, he was posted to 425 Squadron and both became casualties during operations to Hamburg on 9 November 1942" and replace with, "Sgt Foltz was posted to 425 Squadron and was lost on operations to Hamburg on 9 November 1942, as was Sgt Burke RCAF (see Bomber Command Losses, Volume 3, 1942, page 259)." Prior to the deletion, and in the fourth line of the summary, correct "mine" to read "minor".OTU/138 25/T2707 Amend: T2701
OTU/147 10/N1443 Amend: Sgt J R A Hodgson. Add: F/S S R Farley, P/O F L E Dupre RCAF, Sgt D Keenan, Sgt R A Weese RCAF. Unusually, this crew did not progress to a No. 4 Group squadron but found themselves flying Wellingtons under the authority of No. 1 Group and 166 Squadron. All were killed during the course of operations to Bochum on 29-30 March 1943 (see Bomber Command Losses, Volume 4, 1943, page 85).
OTU/148 24/HD380 Insert: P/O Taffs RCAF (after P/O Graham)
OTU/153 16/R1346 Add: Sgt Leng, too, died alongside his skipper who had been involved in a crash, on 28 February-1 March 1943, during operations to St. Nazaire.
OTU/158 12/BJ728 Add: Sgt Ferguson was born in New Zealand and had enlisted in his native country with the intention of flying with the Fleet Air Arm but in March 1941, having departed New Zealand the previous August, he joined the Royal Air Force (volunteer Reserve) and trained as an observer.
OTU/164 10/26485 Amend: P/O J G Duffill RNZAF Amend: Sgt T R D Shirley. Add: P/O Duffill RNZAF, Sgt Bakewell and Sgt Shirley proceeded to 101 Squadron and were posted missing in action on 17-18 January 1943 whilst operating to Berlin (see Bomber Command Losses, Volume 4, 1943, page 22).
OTU/169 21/HD984 Crew matrix add : P/O K J Howson +
New summary : 'T/o 2250 Moreton-in-Marsh for a night cross-country. Presumed to have come down in the sea off Scotland's west coast. Four are commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial, while 19 year old P/O Howson was found on a beach named as Carleton on the Wigtown peninsular and roughly 10 miles S of the airfield at Wigtown. Certified as deceased by Wigtown's Senior Medical Officer, S/L B J Beckford, who travelled to the scene, P/O Howson from Romford in Essex is buried in Glasserton Parish Churchyard, the nearest village to where he was found and just above St Ninian's Cave.' [RAF Commands via Mark Haycock 08/01/09]OTU/169 22/DV789 Add: Sgt A T E McCormack RCAF inj, Sgt D F Heybourne inj, Sgt K A Reed RCAF inj. Insert between: "in a field" and "near Salford Priors" "at Abbots Salford".
OTU/173 13/T1991 Amend: Sgt J F Hanna RNZAF (also in summary). Note: Errol Martyn advises that it was coincidence that Hanna's service number was 412682 and that Hannah's was 412683.
OTU/177 30/X9801 Addition to crew matrix and summary.
Sgt Mason inj
Sgt S L Drayton inj
Continue summary: Sgt Drayton died from his injuries within hours of his admittance to hospital. From Ely, he is buried in Newmarket Cemetery. [Colin Bruggy, 13/11/08]OTU/178 12/BK250 Amend: F/O M L Gaudin
OTU/179 14/DV929 Amend: P/O W F Rielly (amend his name in the summary, as well).
OTU/182 10/Z9437 Amend: P/O F L Perrers RNZAF. Amend: "on the beach" to read "off the beach"
OTU/183 26/X9622 Delete: Sgt Lennox +
OTU/185 21/R1534 summary amendment: 3rd line after "Radnorshire" replace the stop with a comma and continue "crashing near farm buildings at Upper Talcoed Farm, Nantmel." [Phillip Jones 22/09/08]
OTU/187 11/R1174 Amend: Sgt F W R Cumpsty RNZAF
OTU/188 16/Z1665 Amend: P/O D F S Clark
OTU/190 11/X9953 Amend: "Of the four survivors, three were destined to lose their lives; Sgt Hoey, who was posted to 75 Squadron was killed on 23-24 September 1943, while four nights later his colleague, Sgt Sharp RNZAF, serving with 90 Squadron, died in a crash near Cambridge. Sgt Tvrdeich RNZAF lost his life while flying with 15 Squadron (see Bomber Command Losses, Volume 4, 1943, pages 330, 336 respectively and Volume 5, 1944, page 128).
OTU/191 14/DV449 Delete: Cottesmore and insert Saltby. Add: This accident was witnessed by F/L S (Steve) Stevens DFC AFC who, in 1943, served with distinction with 57 Squadron.
OTU/192 81/LA766 Add: WO1 Roberts RCAF had recently served in the Middle East with 70 Squadron and had been involved in a non-fatal accident on 21 July 1942, when Wellington IC DV504 (repaired) crashed on take off from Abu Sueir.
OTU/194 11/X9616 Add: Flying with Sgt Gavin was Sgt Robinson RNZAF and his fellow countryman, Sgt Cooksley. Both survived, albeit as prisoners of war.
OTU/195 29/BJ779 Amend: Sgt J Amos. Amend: "Verey" (in summary) to read "Very"
OTU/199 26/DV725 Add as a footnote: In a letter to the author, in 2002, Mr B J Tooke added that the Wellington finished up near the gate keeper's cottage at the local railway level-crossing, the cottage being lived in by his parents. Either Sgt Belcher, or a member of the crew, was found by Mr Tooke's elder brother (who worked on the railway) and taken into the cottage and cared for by their mother, until the arrival of the authorities.
OTU/199 11/N2761 Delete the last sentence in the summary and replace it with, "Sgt Noble RNZAF went to the Middle East, where he joined 37 Squadron. On 19 September 1943, his aircraft was shot down and, subsequently, he became a prisoner of war. He was on his twenty-fifth operational sortie."OTU/200 19/Z9156 Amend: Sgt S Bellis + Bebington Cemetery [Chorley 26/08/07]
OTU/202 24/BD285 Amend: F/S M A Peterson RNZAF
OTU/203 10/Z6812 Errol Martyn writes, "Hatchard's biography offers a different version of events. From his fourth patrol, after spending twenty nine hours in a rubber dinghy, he was picked up by the steamship Northern Foam and returned safely to England." Although Errol (and I concur) thinks it unlikely, it is possible that Sgt Hatchard became separated from his crew and, thus, they were picked up within the four hours indicated in the summary.
OTU/212 81/EB346 Add: F/O Page had served in the Middle East with 104 Squadron. At Kabrit, on 23 October 1942, he had the misfortune to write off Wellington II W5359.
OTU/214 15/DV936 Add: Twenty year old F/S Boyes RAAF of Hobart, Tasmania, had married Joan Hoyes and was the father of Lynne. In view of his age, it is possible he never saw his baby daughter.
OTU/217 24/BD219 Add: Sgt L G Davies RCAF (one of the two injured airmen).
OTU/218 19/BD381 Delete: West Lothian and replace with Lanarkshire, followed by, "north of the village of Shotts and west of Harthill. It is believed the pilot was trying to ditch in, or forced-land alongside, the Roughrigg Reservoir.
OTU/218 20/DV949 Insert: JM-K. Add to crew and text: Sgt E H Burgess, Sgt T McKenzie, Sgt R Harrington, Sgt A Woodward RCAF: with a crew of seven for a combined exercise in bombing and night navigation. Nearly two hours into the detail, and while flying at 8,000 feet, the starboard engine began to give so much trouble that Sgt Watson, fearing for the safety of his crew, ordered everyone to bale out, height having been lost to around 2,000 feet. He then forced-landed the ailing bomber on the beach, close to an unlit airfield on the island of Benbecula. Meanwhile, the navigator, air bomber and wireless operator had landed safely on North Uist, while from South Uist came the good news that the tail gunner, Sgt Woodward and two other members of the crew were safe. Sgt Harrington informs me that those who have been identified went, eventually, to 78 Squadron and, subsequently, gained Distinguished Flying Crosses (Gazetted on various dates in 1944).OTU/219 22/HE218 Add: WO1 Kerby RCAF had served in the Middle East with 108 Squadron where, on 16 November 1942, his Wellington IC HX380 had crashed during the course of bombing operations. His co-pilot, P/O H A H Baker, later returned to the United Kingdom and was posted missing in action on 30 July 1944, while serving with 97 Squadron (see Bomber Command Losses, Volume 5, 1944, page 365).
OTU/220 21/T2562 Amend: F/S K B Rogers RNZAF
OTU/223 23/X3704 Delete: Star Hotel and replace with the Brandy Cask public house, Bridge Street. Remove the statement in parenthesis and replace with, (a propeller blade from a Wellington is displayed at the rear of the Star Hotel, next door to the Brandy Cask). Mrs Berry was the wife of the licensee of the Brandy Cask. I am indebted to Brian Keward, author of "Angry Skies across the Vale" for the corrections pertaining to the summary, and for various amendments reported in respect of 23 and 29 Operational Training Units.
OTU/224 20/R1701 Delete: R1701 and replace with R1707.
OTU/224 24/Z6639 Delete: 200 yards and replace with 250 yards west from, while in the footnote, delete "all five airmen clear" and replace with "Sgt Elkins clear". Brian Keward points out that the Observer Post was roughly 250 yards east of Broadway Tower which, at the time, was home to Mr Ernest Hollington, his wife and children. The area is now a country park. In 2000, Brian purchased, and presented, a plaque to the memory of the crew.OTU/225 28/DV613? add:
3-4 Jun 1943 28 OTU Wellington IC Op: Nickel
F/S R Lacerbe RCAF int
F/O B L Shaw RCAF int
Sgt L G French RCAF int
Sgt F Wright int
Sgt W Breslau RCAF int
T/o Wymeswold and set course for France. While over the Bay of Biscay, and well off its intended track, came under attack by Ju88s of 5./KG40 out from Bordeaux. Badly shot about, the crew headed for Portugal and, subsequently baled out over the fishing village of Espinho. Sgt Breslau was an American citizen.
Note. The serial is quoted as DV613 but see entry same page for Sgt J W Shearek. [RAF Bomber Airfields of World War 2, Jonathan Falconer and relayed by Mark Haycock]OTU/229 10/BD281 Amend: Sgt B T Scammell add DFM. After .. Newfoundland. add: His gallantry award was Gazetted on 3 July 1943. He is reported to have completed 26 operational sorties. [Mark Haycock 30/07/08]
OTU/230 23/BK408 Delete: Sgt R A Harris and replace with Sgt R A Hanks.
OTU/237 24/N1390 Amend: P/O K O Law DFM RNZAF. Add: P/O Law RNZAF had served with 150 Squadron; details of his award had been Gazetted on 11 August 1942.
OTU/239 26/X3790 Add: After "T/o Little Horwood" (crew No. 7), while at the end of the summary, on page 240, add, "I am indebted to Jeff Harrison, the aircraft's sole survivor, for much of the information here summarised."
OTU/242 11/R1337 Amend the last sentence to read, "F/S Harries RNZAF was born in Blackpool but emigrated to Australia at an early age. He arrived in New Zealand at sometime in 1938, probably from East Perth in Western Australia."
OTU/242 11/R1337 Delete F/O B James [his details are covered elsewhere in the appropriate volumes]. Add: Sgt A Carter RA +, Sgt H T Richings RA +
Delete 'the names of the soldiers are not known' and replace with 'both soldiers are named on the Brookwood Memorial.' [NAA:166/17/120 via Mark Haycock 13/01/09]OTU/243 82/BK399 Errol Martyn has not been able to trace any airman by the name of "F/O O L Macfarlane RNZAF" serving with the Royal New Zealand Air Force.
OTU/245 22/HE556 Delete: "at Honeybourne airfield" and replace with "near Honeybourne railway station".
OTU/246 30/X3564 Add: WO2 Chester RCAF had been obliged to forced-land Wellington IC HX775 on Lasipalmas Island while staging from Portreath to Gibraltar on 23 October 1942. His crew, on that occasion, were: Sgt M N Walker RNZAF, Sgt H E M Howell RAAF, Sgt J H Wilkinson RAAF, Sgt D D Gardner RAAF. All had been attached to 1446 (Ferry Training) Flight and all underwent a brief spell of internment, before being returned to the United Kingdom. Their reports are held at the National Archives Public Record Office under WO208 3312, file references (-)1120 (Sgt Chester RCAF) to (-)1124 inclusive.
OTU/248 14/DV479 Delete: Welford in Berkshire and replace with Home Farm, Sulby, two miles NNE from Welford, Leicestershire. I am, indeed, most grateful to John H Collier, an acknowledged expert on aviation incidents that occurred in the county of Leicestershire.
OTU/247 29/BK497 Amend crew matrix and summary:
P/O G E Bilke +
Sgt J Baxter +
Sgt W A Widdowson +
F/S G D Scott RCAF +
Sgt C W Shephard +
Sgt B M Semark +
Sgt G W J Hopkins RCAF +
Amend summary, 4th line after "Cemetery," continue "while Sgt Widdowson and Sgt Semark were claimed by their next of kin. P/O Bilke and Sgt Baxter are commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial." Credit : www.dive-pembrokeshire.com/wrecks.html , RAF Commands 08/2207 and BBC News Wales 3 October 2000, via Mark Haycock 24/01/09]OTU/249 11/DV608 Amend: Sgt A L Dickison RNZAF (also in summary)
OTU/259 24/AD675 Amend: Sgt F W Forster RCAF pow 4B 269844 (this data should be inserted, also, on page 365).
OTU/260 27/X3637 Add: P/O McKiggan RAAF had served with 40 Squadron in the Middle East and on 5-6 October 1942 had been involved in a minor flying accident whilst piloting Wellington IC BB516 (repaired). [see also Updates Log - PPCUs]
OTU/260 27/X3637: amend matrix to read:
P/O M E McKiggan RAAF + Screened pilot
F/S/ F G Neville RAAF + Pilot
F/O D A McKechnie RAAF + Screened navigator
F/O O I H Stoeckel RAAF + Navigator
F/S S S L La Frentz RAAF + Air bomber
P/O T T Jones RAAF + Screened wireless operator
F/S J J Herbert RAAF + Wireless operator
Sgt N C Hanson RAAF + Air gunner
The respective aircrew categories are shown as clarification for an unusual 8-man crew. [27 OTU Resources and NAA Australian Archives, via Chris Pointon 12/08/08]OTU/263 14/DV435 Errol Martyn has traced the following information, in respect of F/O Clark RNZAF, "On the night of 24 November 1943, F/O Clark was a member of crew of a Wellington bomber aircraft which was involved in a flying accident at Shuttlegate, Derbyshire. Information received from the Air Ministry stated that F/O Clark baled out, and as a result of this action received a leg injury. He was admitted to station sick quarters at Finningley, Yorkshire. From the time he became a casualty, up to the time of his return to No. 14 OTU on 2 May 1944, he was admitted to various hospitals for the treatment of his injury. These included the Doncaster Royal Infirmary, and the RAF Hospital, Ely, Cambridgeshire. During this period he was granted a considerable amount of sick leave. In July 1944, F/O Clark proceeded from No. 14 OTU to Headquarters No. 51 Base." He was subsequently killed on air operations, while serving with 207 Squadron, to Duren in November 1944 (see Bomber Command Losses, Volume 5, 1944, page 486).
OTU/268 17/X3344 Errol Martyn informs me that F/O Gilmore RNZAF and S/L Gilmour RNZAF were not in anyway related, despite the closeness of their service numbers and my implied remarks in the note that accompanies the summary.
OTU/270 11/Z8793 Amend: Sgt C W Estcourt RNZAF
OTU/273 84/HZ474 Add: Sgt J D Kennedy + Streatham Park Cemetery, Mitcham. Delete: Nottingham and replace with Northampton.
OTU/277 24/N1375 Add: Sgt Tate
OTU/277 24/Z6673 Add: F/O SpearinOTU/280 11/HE229 Amend: F/L A B Smith DFC RNZAF. Add: F/L Smith had previously served in the Middle East, flying Wellingtons with 40 Squadron. On 23-24 February 1942, whilst piloting IC BB478/C he had been obliged to ditch, spending the next eighty-two hours in a dinghy.
OTU/281 11/HF480 Amend the last sentence to read, "F/S Jamieson RNZAF rest....".
OTU/281 17/HE915 Add Sgt C F Smallwood + to crew matrix and amend summary: 3rd line, after "crew" continue "except for Sgt Smallwood, now commemorated on panel 238 at the Runnymede Memorial, were picked up" et alOTU/285 11/LN482 Either the time of take off has been incorrectly entered, or the timing of the crash has been wrongly given. To be investigated.
OTU/286 22/BJ601 amend summary: Line 6 after "at 1145," delete remainder of summary and continue "the Wellington crash-landing at Wernbrig Farm near the isolated hamlet of Ysfa [Nant Glas] NNW of Doldowlod, Radnorshire." [Phillip Jones supported by Google Earth 28/09/08]
OTU/287 17/HZ412 Amend (in note): F/O John Hawarth Heath RNZAF
OTU/288 28/Z1621 Amend: F/O M D Muggeridge DFM RNZAF, F/S P J McVerry RNZAF. Add: F/O Muggeridge RNZAF had won his DFM while flying in the Middle East with 104 Squadron, the details appearing in the London Gazette on 25 May 1943. F/S (later F/O) McVerry RNZAF became a Pathfinder pilot and flew with 582 Squadron (see Bomber Command Losses, Volume 6, 1945, page 52).
OTU/295 30/DF641 Delete: "about 5 miles SW of Ingham" and replace with "near Thorpe in the Fallows, 6 miles NW of Lincoln".
OTU/299 16/BK258 Amend: F/S J H C Molloy RNZAF
OTU/306 11/HZ375 insert between 22/LN869 and 27/LP437
30 Jul 1944 11 OTU Wellington X HZ375 Training
F/L L E Macadam DFM +
F/O I M Angus RAAF +
F/S N L Newby RAAF +
P/O R J Taylor +
F/S S Brown DFM +
Sgt R T Ankers + ,
Sgt T Aspin +
Cdt F J D Harris ATC +
T/o Westcott for a Cine Gun exercise with a fighter. At 1523, and while taking quite violent evasive action, the bomber suffered catastrophic structural failure as both wings came off. Without hope of escape all perished as the fuselage smashed into the ground near Chardon, Buckinghamshire, some 5 miles NNW from the airfield. F/L Macadam had served in the Middle East with 70 Squadron while 37 year old F/S Brown had been recently screened from 50 Squadron, Their awards were Gazetted on 18 September 1942, and 15 August 1944, respectively. Both Australians and Cdt Harris, who came from Hayes in Middlesex, received service funerals at Oxford [Botley] Cemetery, their companions were claimed by their next of kin.
Note. Air-Britain [Historians] serial register HA100-HZ999 shows HZ375 as being relegated to ground training as 4907M with effect from 1 November 1944. [RAF Commands web site via Mark Haycock, 13/11/08]OTU/312 83/JA453 amend crew matrix and summary :
P/O E Hartstein +
Sgt R Lindahl RNAF +
Sgt F E Simons +
Sgt J Robertson inj
Sgt T McKenna +
Sgt H Hawkins inj
amend summary: make 'crash landed' crash-landed at Cenarth some 6 miles; make 'Jewish Cemetery' Jewish Cemetery, Sgt McKenna lies in Glasgow's Sandymount Cemetery,; after 'page 352).' add: The two injured airmen were treated in Cardigan Hospital and in 1994, both attended a Memorial and Thanksgiving Service held at Cenarth Church. [Don Drew 12/08/08]OTU/317 24/LP499 Add: P/O Kennedy RCAF had been involved in a distressing incident, whilst flying Wellington X NC650 on 16 September 1944, when, after losing control off St. Catherine's Point on the Isle of Wight, three members of the crew baled out. Two were rescued from the water, but Sgt W R Mattless RCAF was drowned. Subsequently, P/O Kennedy, and the two remaining members of crew, landed safely at Odiham.
OTU/321 19/AD625 Delete: "the harbour at Seaham" and replace with "a triangular field on Slingy Hill Farm, Murton, two and-a-half miles WSW of Seaham".
OTU/323 12/HE806 Amend: F/L L T V Dudding RNZAF
OTU/327 11/LN845 Amend: F/S C R Wagstaff RNZAF
OTU/330 11/HE740 Amend in summary: North Marston
OTU/335 20/LN453 Add: F/O Last, who had flown in the Middle East with 90 Squadron, had baled out from Wellington IC HE107/C on 2-3 January 1943.
OTU/342 27/PG259 Amend: F/O D R Britton DFC RNZAF W/O D M Fimmell
OTU/342 20/NC594 Add: F/O Rickard had served with 90 Squadron in the Middle East. On 9-10 March 1943, he had crashed while piloting Wellington IC AD651/D.OTU/363 Delete Sgt D Dunkley and all detail.
OTU/365 Insert (where appropriate) under Royal New Zealand Air Force W/O K A Dunkley 30-31 May 1942 11 OTU R1065 Koln 357 406
OTU/367 P/O F L Perrers was RNZAF and, therefore, his name, and details, should be removed from the Royal Air Force section and reinserted beneath a new sub-heading, Royal New Zealand Air Force.
OTU/367 It is inevitable that some aircraft, relevant to a particular year or series, are overlooked, either through misreporting of their units, or through an oversight on my part, while trawling through the serial registers. Thus, the following aircraft have been identified as requiring further inspection:
7 Aug 1942 15 OTU Wellington IC DV445
7 Mar 1943 16 OTU Defiant I AA325
19 Feb 1944 14 OTU Tomahawk IIA AH929
11 Mar 1944 26 OTU Tomahawk I AH855
4 Jun 1944 26 OTU Tomahawk IIB AK116
5 Jul 1944 26 OTU Tomahawk IIA AH918
1 Feb 1945 16 OTU Oxford II AB688
17 Jun 1945 16 OTU Mosquito XX KB272