Operation: Training
Date: 04th October 1942 (Sunday)
Unit: No. 539 Squadron (13 Group)
Type: Hurricane IIc
Serial: BN382
Code: None issued
Base: RAF Acklington, Northumberland
Location: Wiley Sike, Northumberland
Pilot: Fl/Sgt. Bernard Clive Williams NZ/405355 RNZAF Age 27. Killed
REASON FOR LOSS:
Taking off from RAF Acklington in Northumberland at 15:25 hrs to carry out low flying and acrobatic training. Later seen to dive out of clouds and into the ground at Wiley Sike some 3 miles north east of Gilsland.
Squadron ORB for the day:
'04.10.1942: Weather was rather unsettled and no night flying took place. The Hurricanes did low flying and practice. This was a black day for the Squadron, as two Hurricanes crashed with fatal results to the pilots. Sgt. Timewell and Fl/Sgt Williams. Both pilots took off at 15:25 hrs to do practice acrobatics'.
Burial details:
Fl/Sgt. Bernard Clive Williams. Carlisle Cemetery (Dalston Road). Ward 11. Sec. P. Grave 43. Born on the 16th September 1915 in Auckland, the son of William and Emma Josephine Williams, of Auckland City, New Zealand. 400 flying hours logged and had completed some 8 operational sorties.
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:
