Operation: Training

Date: 27th October 1943 (Wednesday)

Unit: No. 11 OTU (Operational Training Unit). 92 Group

Type: Wellington IC

Serial: R1790

Code: KH-E

Base: RAF Westcott, Buckinghamshire

Location: Parrots Field,Wotton House, Wotton Underwood

Pilot: Fl/Sgt. Sidney Charles Corby NZ/424429 RNZAF Age 23. Killed

Obs: Sgt. Thomas Bayly Tanner NZ/425446 RNZAF Age 24. Killed

Air/Bmr: Sgt. Ronald Leslie Warren 1586065 RAFVR Age 19. Killed

W/Op/Air/Gnr: Sgt. John Sydney Buchan 1565131 RAFVR Age 21. Killed

Air/Gnr: Sgt. Blount RAFVR Survived - injured.

REASON FOR LOSS:

Taking off from RAF Westcott tat 19:42 hrs to practise night circuits and landings, after one or two circuits and landings the pilot made another take off at 19:55 hrs but the aircraft was observed to swing 20 degrees to starboard on its climb out, just moments later it crashed into the top of 100 ft. trees at Parrots field, Wotton House about a mile from the airfield and burst into flames.

Units from the Pioneer Corps attended the crash, but little could be done. However, the rear gunner, Sgt. Blount survived and was treated at Halton hospital.

Fl/Sgt. Sidney Charles Corby. Botley Cemetery (Oxford) Plot I/2. Grave 97. Born on the 27th June 1920 at Petone. A metal turner for Acme Engineering Company prior to service. Enlisted on the 02nd May 1942 at Rotorua. Awarded his pilots badge and promoted to sergeant on the 06th March 1943. Son of Florence Corby (nee Bates), of Naenae, Wellington, New Zealand. 336 Hours of which 11 were solo on a Wellington.

Sgt. Thomas Bayly Tanner. Botley Cemetery (Oxford) Plot I/2. Grave 96. Born on the 07th February 1919 at Tauranga. A draper for Mrs. M.E. Lamport of Tauranga. Enlisted on the 30th May 1942 ay Walpapakauri. Awarded his navigators badge and promoted to sergeant on the 14th May 1943. Son of Jonathan and Amelia Emily Tanner (nee Johnston), of Tauranga, Auckland, New Zealand.

Sgt. Ronald Leslie Warren. Twickenham Cemetery. Plot N. Row E. Class B. Grave 33. Son of Charles Alfred and Florence Ada Warren, of Twickenham, England.

Sgt. John Sydney Buchan. Colinton Parish Churchyard (Southern Ext) Sec. P. Grave 25. Son of Gavin Struthers Buchan and Sarah Davidson Buchan, of Edinburgh, Scotland.

For further details our thanks to the following sources shown below. Also to Mrs. S. Game who’s father attended the scene as a member of the Pioneer Corps.