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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14.02.1942 No 12 OTU Wellington IC R1027 P/O. John R. Reenberg

Operation: Training

Date: 14th February 1942 (Saturday)

Unit: No. 12 Operational Training Unit (6 Group)

Type: Wellington IC

Serial: R1027

Code: Not issued

Base: RAF Chipping Norden, Northamptonshire

Location: At base, RAF Chipping Norden

Pilot: P/O. John Reginald Reenberg NZ/404944 RNZAF Age 26. Killed

Pilot: P/O.Frederick Burns Richardson NZ/41997 RNZAF Age 21. Killed

Obs: Sgt. Gilbert Noel Duke 1063676 RAFVR Age 25. Killed

W/Op/Air/Gnr: Fl/Sgt. Wilbert Lome Sinclair R/78077 RCAF Age 27. Killed

W/Op/Air/Gnr: Sgt. Wilfrid Walsh 1360278 RAFVR Age 31. Killed

REASON FOR LOSS:

Taking off on a night bombing, photography and navigation exercise.

On return to the airfield and during the approach to land at 23:35 hrs the pilot opened the throttles to go round again but the starboard engine cut and control was then lost. The starboard wingtip hit a tree with the Wellington flying into the ground at 23:36 hrs, catching fire - killing all the crew.

Burial details:

P/O. John Reginald Reenberg. Brookwood Military Cemetery Grave: 2.J.1A. Born on the 13th April 1915 at Martinborough, Wairarapa, New Zealand, the son of Kay and Elizabeth Reenberg. 244 flying hours logged - 91 solo with 21 on this type. No grave inscription as instructed by the Government of New Zealand. For reasons see the page: Your relatives grave explained.

P/O.Frederick Burns Richardson. Brookwood Military Cemetery Grave: 2.A.9. Son of Frederick and Emily Margaret Richardson, of Wellington City, New Zealand. 261 flying hours logged. No grave inscription as instructed by the Government of New Zealand. For reasons see the page: Your relatives grave explained.

Sgt. Gilbert Noel Duke. Knocknamuckley Church Of Ireland Churchyard (St. Matthias). Son of John James Duke and Sarah M. Duke, of Knocknamuckley, Craigavon, Northern Ireland. Grave inscription reads: "He Asked Life Of Thee And Thou Gavest It Him, Even Length Of Days For Ever And Ever".

Fl/Sgt. Wilbert Lome Sinclair. Brookwood Military Cemetery Grave: 37.E.10. Son of Arthur and Alfretta Sinclair, of 98 York Mills Road, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Grave inscription reads: "Tranquil You Lie, Your Knightly Virtue Proved, Your Memory Hallowed In The Land You Loved".

Sgt. Wilfrid Walsh. Manchester Cemetery (Gorton). Sec. A. Grave: 194. Husband of Bessie Walsh (née Hatton), of Chorlton-upon-Medlock, Manchester, England.

For further details our thanks to the following sources:

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