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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03.01.1945 467 Squadron Lancaster I NF908 PO:C Fg Off. Allamby

Operation: Training Flight

Date: 3rd January 1945 (Wednesday)

Unit: 467 Squadron

Type: Lancaster I

Serial: NF908

Code: PO:C

Base: RAF Waddington, Lincolnshire

Location: Leek, Staffordshire

Pilot: Fg Off. Walter Vernon Allamby 428516 RAAF Age 26. Killed

Flt Eng: Sgt. Norman Lees 2218806 RAFVR Age 19. Killed

Nav: Flt Lt. Jack Ivan Pritchard 421047 RAAF Age 30. Killed

WOp/Air Gnr: Flt Sgt. Geoffrey James Dunbar 424391 RAAF Age 22. Killed

Bomb Aimer: Flt Sgt. Richard Emonson 430484 RAAF Age 21. Killed

Air Gnr: Flt Sgt. Thomas Edward Harold Wright 430728 RAAF Age 24. Killed

Air Gnr: Flt Sgt. Cleveland Charles Watson 434547 RAAF Age 23. Killed

Reason For Loss:

The Lancaster was lost on a fighter affiliation training exercise from RAF Waddington, Lincolnshire after taking off at 14:30 hrs.

Fg Off. Allamby and his crew were killed when the Lancaster he was piloting on a training exercise, crashed at 16:00 hrs. four miles NNE of Leek, Staffordshire, when NF908 flew into dense cloud, hitting the side of a hill, killing all the crew. The aircraft was completely destroyed in the crash.

Burial Details;

Funeral Service took place at the RAF Regional Cemetery at Blacon, Chester, at 15:50 hrs, on Tuesday 9th January 1945, with full service honours, where all seven members of the crew were laid to rest. The RAAF Chaplain, Sq/Ldr. Sands conducted the service. A representative of RAF 467 Squadron, Waddington was in attendance. The Squadron sent along floral tributes, photograph's were taken to be sent to all the next of kin.

Fg.Off. Walter Vernon Allamby. RAF Regional Cemetery Blacon, Cheshire. Section A. Grave 754. Son of Alfred and Ruby Frances Allamby, of Millgrove,Victoria, Australia. Born on Thursday 1st August 1918, at Millgrove, Victoria, Australia.

Enlisted into the Royal Australian Air Force at Melbourne on the 06th November 1942. Father employed at Millgrove Post Office.

Sgt. Norman Lees. RAF Regional Cemetery Blacon, Cheshire. Section A. Grave 709. Son of Fred and Dora Lees, of Oldham, Lancashire, England.

Flt Lt. Jack Ivan Pritchard. RAF Regional Cemetery, Cheshire.Section A. Grave 799. Son of George and Lillian Grace Pritchard and husband of Catherine Mary Pritchard, of Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada.

Flt Sgt. Geoffrey James Dunbar. RAF Regional Cemetery, Blacon, Cheshire. Sec.A. Grave 1095. Son of James Coupland Dunbar and Pearl Violet Dunbar, of Strathfield, New South Wales, Australia. Born on Sunday 16th April 1922, at Paddington, New South Wales, Australia.

Enlisted into the Royal Australian Air Force at Sydney.

Flt Sgt. Richard Emonson. RAF Regional Cemetery Blacon, Cheshire. Section Sec. A. Grave 368. Son of Keith Glanfield Emonson and Alice Muriel Emonson, of Caulfield, Victoria, Australia. Born on Friday 26th October 1923 at Bendigo, Victoria, Australia.

Enlisted into the Royal Australian Air Force at No. 1, Recruitment Centre, Melbourne, on the 06th November 1942. Embarked for the UK on the 12th June 1943. When he died, his Wing Commander, Commanding, said of him, "He was a member of a fine crew, and we will miss his cheerful personality. He carried out his duties in a conscientious and capable manner, and his courage gained the admiration of all". His father was Captain Glanfield Emonson, MC. who served with the 38th Battalion AIF during World War One.

Flt Sgt. Thomas Edward Harold Wright. RAF Regional Cemetery, Cheshire. Sec. A. Grave 979. Son of William John and Harriet Sarah Wright, husband of Norma Wright of Kingsford, New South Wales, Australia. Born on Thursday, 28th May 1920, at Auburn, New South Wales, Australia.

Enlisted into the Royal Australian Air Force at Paddington, New South Wales.

Flt Sgt. Cleveland Charles Watson. RAF Regional Cemetery, Cheshire. Section A. Grave 1061. Son of Harry and Mary Annetta Watson,of Glen Osmond, South, Australia. Born on Friday 29th April 1921, at Yorketown, South Australia.

Enlisted into the Royal Australian Air Force at Melbourne.

Researched by Bob Wilton for Aircrew Remembered. With thanks to Lindsay Adams - nephew of the pilot who contacted us in September 2015 and advised age correction and other information. Australian National Archives, other sources as quoted below. Reorganisation of report by Aircrew Remembered (Apr 2021)

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