Operation: Brussels

Date: 28/29th July 1940 (Sunday/Monday)

Unit: No. 142 Squadron 1 Group (motto: 'Determination')

Type: Fairey Battle Mk I

Serial: L5584

Code: QT-?

Base: RAF Binbrook, Lincolnshire

Location: Lost without trace

Pilot: P/O. Matthew John Alexander Kirdy 36254 RAF Age 19. Missing - believed killed

Obs: Sgt. Norman Longcluse 747748 RAFVR Age ? Missing - believed killed

W/Op/Air/Gnr: Sgt. Robert McGregor Hettle 645617 Age 19. Missing - believed killed

REASON FOR LOSS:

On an operation to bomb an airfield near Brussels, taking off at 00:05 hrs. Understood to have been hit by Flak, but lost without trace.

Also lost from the Squadron:

Battle I L5502 QT-D Flown by 20 year old, Fl/Lt. Robert Howard Edwards MiD x 2 42113 RAF shot down South West of Audembert. All three crew survived to be taken PoW. On the 26th September Fl/Lt. Edwards was shot and killed during an 'escape attempt'. Read more here.

Burial details:

P/O. Matthew John Alexander Kirdy. Runnymede Memorial. Panel 9. Son of Emmanuel and Ellen Jane Kirdy, of Mayfield, Canterbury, New Zealand.

Sgt. Norman Longclusey. Runnymede Memorial. Panel 16. No further details - are you able to assist?

Sgt. Robert McGregor Hettle. Runnymede Memorial. Panel 15. Son of Ellen Hettle, and stepson of William Smith, of Edinburgh, Scotland.

Others mentioned:

Fl/Lt. Robert Howard Edwards MiD x 2. Poznan Old Garrion Cemeery. Grave 6.A.7. Son of Oliver Gilbert and Mary Emily Edwards, of Salford, Lancashire, England. Grave inscription reads: 'Late Of Sedbergh School, Yorkshire. "At Rest With Our Lord'".

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