Operation: Operational training exercise

Date: 9th November 1943 (Tuesday)

Unit No: 23 Operational Training Unit (OTU), 91 Group, Bomber Command

Type: Wellington III

Serial: X3932

Code: WE:P

Base: RAF Pershore, Worcestershire

Location: Lower Park Farm, Rowney Green, England

Pilot: Sgt. Charles Robert Gaudet Long R157864 RCAF Age 26. Killed

Obs: Fg Off. Hugh Hartil Barton J25015 RCAF Age 28. Killed

Bomb Aimer: Plt Off. Gordon John Gallagher J27392 RCAF Age 30. Killed

WOp/Air Gnr: Plt Off. Julius Harold Magnes J26206 RCAF Age 27. Killed

Air Gnr (Rear): Sgt. Alton James O'Neil R161662 RCAF Age 28. Killed

Above: Sgt. Charles Robert Gaudet Long, Fg Off. Hugh Hartil Barton (from their Service Records)

Above: Plt Off. Gordon John Gallagher, Plt Off. Julius Harold Magnes, Sgt. Alton James O'Neil from their Service Records)

REASON FOR LOSS:

On the 9th November 1943 X3932 took-off from RAF Pershore at 18:38 hrs on a training mission.

From an investigation, carried out by an engineering officer of 23 OTU, in collaboration with Group Captain James it appears engine failure in probably the port engine occurred, the pilot then set course for base from the bombing range, over-shot the base whilst losing height. Control of the aircraft appears to have been lost when the aircraft was down to a few hundred feet.

At 19:49 hrs as the pilot banked right to attempt a second landing the aircraft stalled and crashed at Lower Park farm at Rowney Green killing the whole crew.

It would seem that the pilot either turned against his bad engine or lost control in some other way. The aircraft was seen to turn slightly to starboard and then make a violent turn to port and crash into the ground.

It would appear from the position of the crash that the aircraft after dropping only one bomb, was returning to base. The lighting in use at the time was Mk.II DREM lighting complete with outer circle. No distress W/T message was received from the aircraft.

In 1982 the site was excavated by the Midland Aircraft Recovery Group, wreckage was discovered 9 ft below the surface and in recent times a tree was planted with a memorial plaque placed at the site.

Burial details:

Sgt. Charles Robert Gaudet Long. Pershore Cemetery, Worcestershire, Plot Q. Grave 389. Born on the 21st November 1916 in Drumheller, Alberta. Son of Charles and Elsie Margaret Marion (née Andy) long of Lomita Park California, USA.

Fg Off. Hugh Hartil Barton. Pershore Cemetery, Worcestershire, Plot Q. Grave 38. Grave Inscription: “HE ONLY LIVED UNTIL HE WAS A MAN, BUT LIKE A MAN HE DIED”. Born on the 23rd June 1915 in Herberton, Queensland, Australia. Son of Richard and Cecelia Hartil (née Milward) Barton of Windsor, Ontario, Canada.

Plt Off. Gordon John Gallagher. Pershore Cemetery, Worcestershire, Plot Q. Grave 407. Born on the 7th January 1913 in Ontario. Son of John Henry and Ernestine (née Mullin) Gallagher. Husband of Fleurette (née Sabourin) Gallagher of Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.

Plt Off. Julius Harold Magnes. Pershore Cemetery, Worcestershire. Plot Q. Grave 385. Grave Inscription: “REST IN PEACE DEAR HAROLD, UNTIL WE MEET AGAIN IN THAT HEAVENLY HOME”. Born on the 31st March 1916 in Lockwood, Saskatchewan. Son of Martin Oscar and Emma (née Oden) Magnes of Lockwood, Saskatchewan, Canada.

Sgt. Alton James O'Neil. Pershore Cemetery, Worcestershire, Plot Q. Grave 424. Grave Inscription: “MAY HIS SOUL, THROUGH THE MERCY OF GOD, REST IN PEACE. AMEN”. Born on the 16th March 1915 in Bassano, Alberta. Son of James and Kathleen (née O’Toole) O'Neil. Husband of Mary Catherine (née Wallace) O'Neil of Prescott, Ontario, Canada.

Researcher Michel Beckers for Aircrew Remembered November 2016. With thanks to Julian Tansell for grave photographs, Darran Mark Walker for memorial photos. Remainder from the Michel Beckers collection (Nov 2015). Reviewed and updated with new information by Aircrew Remembered (Nov 2025).

Other sources listed below:

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