Operation: Training
Date: 23rd April 1941 (Wednesday)
Unit: No. 18 OTU (Operational Training Unit)
Type: Avro Anson I
Serial: R3408
Base: RAF Bramcote, Warwickshire
Location: Walsgrave on Sowe, West Midlands.
Pilot: Sgt. John Bernard Molony 740943 RAFVR Age 28. Killed (1)
Obs: F/O. Oskar Benedykt Sablik P-1438 PAF Age 29. Killed
W/Op/Air/Gnr/Mech: W/O. Sidney Ripley 363472 RAF Age ? Killed
W/Op/Air/Gnr: Fl/Sgt. Robert Hanson 966859 RAFVR Age 20. Killed
W/Op/Air/Gnr: Sgt. Edmund Kosznik 780477 PAF Age 21. Survived - wounded (2)
Obs: Sgt. Jerzy Rudlicki 780347 PAF Age 20. Killed
REASON FOR LOSS:
On a night navigation exercise when they strayed some 20 miles off course. They entered the Midlands marriage balloon protection area and struck a cable. The aircraft came down on Stole House in Walsgrave on Sowe killing all the crew.
Researched for the Wimbledon College Roll Of Honour - pilot, Sgt. John Molony having been a former pupil.
(1) The CWGC have the death of Sgt. John Bernard Molony listed as 23rd March 1941 - clearly a mistake.
(2) Not known how Sgt. Edmund Kosznik survived this incident - did he bale out, perhaps you are able to assist? He lost his life later on the 24th June 1944 whilst serving with 300 squadron. Lancaster EE124 BH-M. Crashed near Lissington, Lincolnshire on return from an operation to Les Hayone.
Above: Graves of some of the crew. Also showing top right: Sgt. Jerzy Rudlicki. Lower: F/O. Oskar Benedykt Sablik
Burial details:
Sgt. John Bernard Molony. Wimbledon Cemetery (Gap Road). Plot S.A. Grave 8. Son of the Right Hon. Sir Thomas Francis Molony, Bt., P.C., K.C., M.A., LL.D., Vice Chancellor of the University of Dublin, and of Lady Molony (née Rispin), of Wimbledon, husband of Marjory Molony (née Higgs). Won the Victor Ludorum at Wimbledon College in 1931, London, England.
Above: grave photo of pilot Sgt. Malony (courtesy Rob Pearson)
F/O. Oskar Benedykt Sablik. Nuneaton Cemetery (Oaston Road) War Graves Plot. Sec. H. Joint Grave 99. Next of kin details not available - are you able to assist? Born Born 08th October 1921.
W/O. Sidney Ripley. Hambleton Cemetery (St. Andrew). SE of church. Husband of Mary Ann Ripley, of Burley in Wharfedale, Yorkshire, England. Had joined service as a boy in 1923.
Fl/Sgt. Robert Hanson. Liverpool Cemetery (Anfield) Sec. 21. Grave 878. Son of Robert and Mary Hanson, of West Derby, Liverpool, England.
Sgt. Jerzy Rudlicki. Nuneaton Cemetery (Oaston Road) War Graves Plot. Sec. H. Joint Grave 99. Next of kin details not available - are you able to assist? Born 25th December 1912 in Czechowice, Poland
Researched for the Wimbledon College Roll Of Honour - Aircrew Remembered have offered to provide basic information for the school records. Also to Rob Pearson for grave photographs. For further details our thanks to the following sources shown below.
