Operation: Training

Date: 20th April 1942 (Monday)

Unit: No. 3 Operational Training Unit (Coastal Command)

Type: Wellington

Serial: T2834

Code: Non allocated

Base: RAF Cranwell

Location: North Rauceby

Pilot: P/O. Henry Eric Rath J/6686 RCAF Age 21. Killed

Pilot: Sgt. Karl Morris Miegel AUS/403480 RAAF Age 27. Killed

REASON FOR LOSS:

During a training exercise the two pilots were instructed to do circuits carrying out landings at night and circuits. They were apparently instructed to abort the exercise if the local visibility became too low.

At 01:20 hrs. the Wellington flew into high ground near the vicarage at North Rauceby - the aircraft burnt out, killing both pilots.

Burial details:

P/O. Henry Eric Rath. Cranwell Churchyard (St. Andrew) Plot 3. Row E. Grave 1. Son of Samuel S. Rath of Stafford Township and husband of Lillian Edna Rath (née Sutherland), of 540 Gladstone Avenue, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. Grave inscription reads: "The Eternal God Is Thy Refuge And Underneath Are The Everlasting Arms".

Sgt. Karl Morris Miegel. Cranwell Churchyard (St. Andrew) Plot 3. Row D. Grave 1. Son of Karl Theodor and Sarah Jane Miegel, of Wahroonga, New South Wales. Australia. Grave inscription reads: "We Lost The Roses And Sunshine When We Lost You".

For further details our thanks to the following sources shown below.