Operation: Training - night flying

Date: 12th January 1945 (Friday)

Unit: No. 5. L.F.S. (Lancaster Finishing School). 5 Group

Type: Lancaster III

Serial: JB125

Code: -

Base: RAF Syerston, Nottinghamshire

Location: Hoveringham, Nottinghamshire

Pilot: P/O. Guy Rerenui Dunlop NZ/425241 RNZAF Age 28. Killed

Fl/Eng: Sgt. Patrick Joseph Vincent Browne 1897240 RAFVR Age 20. Killed

Nav: Fl/Sgt. Peter John Hill NZ/425790 RNZAF Age 22. Killed (1)

Air/Bmr: Sgt. Albert John Evans BEM. 1422223 RAFVR Age 26. Killed (2)

W/Op/Air/Gnr: Fl/Sgt. Richard Ludgvan Staples NZ/4212868 RNZAF Age 23. Killed

Air/Gnr: Sgt. Richard Henry Sedgley 1852400 RAFVR Age 19. Killed

Air/Gnr: Sgt. William Fordyce Cairns 1822619 RAFVR Age 19. Killed

REASON FOR LOSS:

Took off at 18:45 hrs for training night flight. On return encountered failing visibility as the cloud base being down to 5-600 ft with a persistent drizzle. Flew beyond the airfield and while banking flew into the ground at 21:50 hrs half a mile north of the Tree Hotel at Hoveringham.

(1) Fl/Sgt. Peter Hill's brother, P/O. Howard Perry Hill, was a Battle of Britain pilot who also lost his life - killed during September 1940. Further details here.

(2) Sgt. Albert John Evans BEM citation in L.G: (He was serving as a police constable in the Glamorgan Constabulary)

'Bombs damaged houses and people were trapped in the wreckage. Constable Evans, with complete disregard of his personal safety, immediately began rescue work. After some time a woman was discovered alive but pinned down by debris which was on fire. Under the direction of Evans a tunnel was made and, after two hours work, during which time, a bomb exploded within fifteen yards of the rescuers, the victim was released. The Constable continued his efforts and six hours later a child was rescued. Evans worked with dauntless courage and the success of the work was largely due to his untiring efforts'.

Above left to right: P/O. Guy Dunlop, Fl/Sgt. Peter Hill and Fl/Sgt. Richard Staples.

Above: 30th May 2010. The memorial at Hoveringham placed to this and another crew lost at a later date, that of W/O II Richard Barlow Rathbone R/168095 RCAF from the same LFS - lost on the 28th January 1945 on Lancaster III LM308.

Burial and Personal Details:

Oxford, Botley

P/O. Guy Rerenui Dunlop. Oxford (Botley) Cemetery. Plot H/1. Grave 204. Born on the 26th August 1922 at Picton. Worked as a clerk for Dalgety and Company in Auckland. Enlisted Enlisted on the 30th May 1942 at Walpapaun. Initial training with No. 2 Elementary Flying Training School on the 03rd January 1943. Pilot training terminated on the 29th January 1943. Remustered as air observer. (training interrupted by illness) Embarked for Canada on the 16th August 1943. navigator badge awarded on the 25th February 1944 and promoted to sergeant.

Embarked for England on the 25th March 1944. Joined 8 Observer Advanced Flying Unit 09th May 1944. After further training with 1669 Heavy Conversion Unit joined 5 Lancaster Finishing School on the 03rd December 1944. Son of Jack Stanley Hill and of Dorothy Helen Hill (née White) of Spring Creek, Marlborough, New Zealand. A total of 273 flying hours logged.

Fl/Sgt. Peter John Hill. Oxford (Botley) Cemetery. Plot H/1. Grave 203. Born on the 26th August 1922 at Picton. Worked as a clerk for Dalgety and Company in Auckland. Enlisted Enlisted on the 30th May 1942 at Walpapaun. Initial training with No. 2 Elementary Flying Training School on the 03rd January 1943. Pilot training terminated on the 29th January 1943. Remustered as air observer. (training interrupted by illness) Embarked for Canada on the 16th August 1943. navigator badge awarded on the 25th February 1944 and promoted to sergeant.

Embarked for England on the 25th March 1944. Joined 8 Observer Advanced Flying Unit 09th May 1944. After further training with 1669 Heavy Conversion Unit joined 5 Lancaster Finishing School on the 03rd December 1944. Son of Jack Stanley Hill and of Dorothy Helen Hill (née White) of Spring Creek, Marlborough, New Zealand. A total of 273 flying hours logged.

Sgt. Albert John Evans B.E.M..Oxford (Botley) Cemetery. Plot H/1. Grave 205. Son of Abraham and May Evans, husband of Emma Mary Evans, of Treorchy, Glamorgan, Wales. Grave inscription: 'To A Beautiful Life Came A Sudden End, One Of The Best Whom God Could Lend'.

Fl/Sgt. Richard Ludgvan Staples. Oxford (Botley) Cemetery. Plot H/1. Grave 202. Born on the 26th April 1921 in Edinburgh, Scotland. Moved to New Zealand age 6. Worked as a farmer for F Daysh. Enlisted at Ohakea on the 24th October 1942. Embarked for Canada on the 01st April 1943. Air gunner badge awarded on the 17th April 1944 and promoted to sergeant.

Embarked for England on the 15th February 1944. Further training with 10 Operational Training Unit on 06th June 1944. After further training with 1669 Heavy Conversion Unit before joining 5 Lancaster Finishing School on the 03rd December 1944. Son of Albert Asser Staples and Mary Jane Staples of, what we understand from Carterton, Masterton, New Zealand. A total of 215 flying hours logged.

Oddington St. Nicholas

Sgt. Richard Henry Sedgley. Oddington (St. Nicholas) Churchyard. Grave - south of church. Son of George Sedgley Kate Elizabeth (née Gardiner), of Upper Oddington, Gloucestershire, England. His brother 26 year old, Claude Vernon Sedgley killed on active service on the 24th October 1943. Embarked on the destroyer HMS Eclipse bound for Leros when she hit a mine east off Kalymnos. She broke in two and sank within five minutes with the loss of 119 of the ship's company and 134 soldiers from A Company, 4th Battalion, Buffs (Royal East Kent Regiment). Grave inscription: 'Gone But Not Forgotten'.

Glasgow Cardonald

Sgt. William Fordyce Cairns. Glasgow (Cardonald) Cemetery. Sec. B. Grave 101. Son of Hector Macdonald Cairns and Elizabeth Smith Fordyce Cairns, of Mosspark, Glasgow, Scotland. Grave inscription: 'Treasured Memories'.

Barking, Rippleside

Sgt. Patrick Joseph Vincent Browne. Barking (Rippleside) Cemetery. Sec. F. Grave 311. Son of Charles and Mary Ellen Browne, of Barking, Essex, England. Grave inscription: 'We Have Loved Him In Life Let Us Not Forget Him In Death. May He Rest In Peace'.

Researched and dedicated to the relatives of this pilot with thanks to the extensive research by Errol Martyn and his publications: “For Your Tomorrow Vols. 1-3”, Auckland Library Heritage Collection, Weekly News of New Zealand, other sources as quoted below: