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Archive Report: Allied Forces

Compiled from official National Archive and Service sources, contemporary press reports, personal logbooks, diaries and correspondence, reference books, other sources, and interviews.
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RAF Crest
02/03.03.1943 No. 14 AFU Oxford I BG197 Sgt. George H. Mcilraith

Operation: Training

Date: 02/03rd March 1943 (Tuesday/Wednesday)

Unit: No. 14 Advanced Flying Unit (21 Group)

Type: Airspeed Oxford I

Serial: BG197

Code: Not known

Base: RAF Ossington, Nottinghamshire

Location: Stark Holmes, Derbyshire

Pilot: Sgt. George Howard Mcilraith NZ/405803 RNZAF Age 23. Killed

REASON FOR LOSS:

With the great research carried out by Errol Martyn on the Royal New Zealand Airforce losses we have been able to compile this page. If you have further information and or photographs we would welcome contact from you.

Taking part in a solo cross country run when it appears he became disorientated whilst returning to the bas east of the crash site. At 00:25 hrs the aircraft hit some trees and crashed at Stark Holmes, Derbyshire killing the young pilot.

Burial details:

Sgt. George Howard Mcilraith. Ashbourne Cemetery. Sec A. Grave 353. Son of Robert and Ethel A. McIlraith, of Hakataramea, Canterbury, New Zealand. A total of 265 flying hours logged with 15 on the Oxford.

Researched and dedicated to the relatives of this pilot 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:

KTY - 20.05.2018

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Acknowledgements
Sources used by us in compiling Archive Reports include: Bill Chorley - 'Bomber Command Losses Vols. 1-9, plus ongoing revisions', Dr. Theo E.W. Boiten and Mr. Roderick J. Mackenzie - 'Nightfighter War Diaries Vols. 1 and 2', Martin Middlebrook and Chris Everitt - 'Bomber Command War Diaries', Commonwealth War Graves Commission, Tom Kracker - Kracker Luftwaffe Archives, Michel Beckers, Major Fred Paradie (RCAF) and MWO François Dutil (RCAF) - Paradie Archive (on this site), Jean Schadskaje, Major Jack O'Connor USAF (Retd.), Robert Gretzyngier, Wojtek Matusiak, Waldemar Wójcik and Józef Zieliński - 'Ku Czci Połeglyçh Lotnikow 1939-1945', Archiwum - Polish Air Force Archive (on this site), Anna Krzystek, Tadeusz Krzystek - 'Polskie Siły Powietrzne w Wielkiej Brytanii', Franek Grabowski, Norman L.R. Franks 'Fighter Command Losses', Stan D. Bishop, John A. Hey MBE, Gerrie Franken and Maco Cillessen - Losses of the US 8th and 9th Air Forces, Vols 1-6, Dr. Theo E.W. Boiton - Nachtjagd Combat Archives, Vols 1-13. Aircrew Remembered Databases and our own archives. We are grateful for the support and encouragement of CWGC, UK Imperial War Museum, Australian War Memorial, Australian National Archives, New Zealand National Archives, UK National Archives and Fold3 and countless dedicated friends and researchers across the world.
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Last Modified: 24 March 2021, 21:05

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