Operation: Training

Date: 21st June 1941 (Saturday)

Unit: No. 99 Squadron

Type: Wellington IC

Serial: X9643

Code: LN-?

Base: RAF Waterbeach, Cambridgeshire

Location: Two miles East North East of Waterbeach Airfield

Pilot: F/O. Alistair Gordon Allen 84861 RAFVR Age 24. Killed

Pilot 2: P/O. Francis Rendall 87056 RAFVR Age 29. Killed

W/Op/Air/Gnr: Sgt. 'Billy' William Bennett 975748 RAFVR Age 22. Killed

W/Op/Air/Gnr: Sgt. John Campbell Stewart 801590 RAFVR Age 22. Killed

Air/Gnr: Sgt. William Henry Lewis 936821 RAFVR Age 26. Killed

Other: Cpl. Charles Percy Eva 529463 RAF Age 24. Killed

REASON FOR LOSS:

Crashed two miles east north east of Waterbeach Airfield in Cambridgeshire during an Air Test, bursting into flames with a loss of all the crew.

The accident was caused by the dinghy breaking loose and fouling the elevators leading to a loss of control of the aircraft.

It is believed that Corporal Eva was a member of the ground crew who had been invited on this particular trip.

Sgt. 'Billy' William Bennett seated front row, 2nd from left - do you recognise any others? (courtesy Christine Spencer/Imelda Broatch)

Sgt. 'Billy' William Bennett seated front row, 1st on right - do you recognise any others? (courtesy Christine Spencer/Imelda Broach)

Burial details:

F/O. Alistair Gordon Allen. Edinburgh (Warriston) Cemetery. Section B1. Grave 1213. Son of Charles Gordon and Annie Margaret (nee Jamieson) Allen of Huntley, Aberdeenshire, Scotland.

P/O. Francis Rendall. Wandsworth (Putney Vale) Crematorium and Cemetery. Screen wall panel 3. Next of Kin details currently not available.

Sgt. William Bennett. Burnley Cemetery. Grave A.14972. Further details: Son of William and Phoebe Annie Bennett and brother of Mary Smith (nee Bennett 1911-1998), Veronica Robinson (nee Bennett 1913-2007) and Imelda Broatch (nee Bennett) of Burnley, Lancashire, England. Born at 31, Constable Road, Burnley, Lancashire in 1919. ”Billy”, as he was known to friends and family, attended St.Mary’s Roman Catholic School before proceeding to St.Mary’s Central School. He represented the school at both cricket and football and also played for the town’s schoolboy teams. A clever snooker and billiards player, he won several medals in local competitions with St.Mary’s Reading Rooms teams and figured prominently in many other sporting activities. After leaving school, studied as an electrical engineering student at the Burnley Corporation Electricity department. Enlisted in the RAF in December 1939, taking part in many operations over enemy territory. On his death certificate dated the 4th of July 1941, it states that the inquest was held on the 24th of June 1941, reported that he received multiple injuries in the crash, which claimed his life and the lives of the rest of the crew.

Sgt. John Campbell Stewart. Hampstead Cemetery. Section C7. Grave 60B. Son of Mr. and Mrs. John Campbell Stewart and husband of Violet Edith of West Hampstead, England.

Cpl. Charles Percy Eva. Waterbeach Cemetery, Cambridgeshire. Grave 35B. Born in Holburn (London) in the June 1917 Qtr, the 2nd son of Albert Edward and Beatrice Cecilia (née Munnich) Eva. He married Ruth Shipley at Tadcaster, Yorkshire in the December 1939 Qtr. They had no children.

Researched by Aircrew Remembered volunteer, researcher and genealogist Linda Ibrom for relatives of this crew. Photo credits to Christine Spencer (niece) and Imelda Broatch (sister) of Sgt. 'Billy Bennett. Also to Liz Hunt who contacted us in July 2016 - it seems that her family were neighbours to the family of Sgt. Bennett. Many thanks to Dave Champion who provided further details - July 2018.

At the going down of the sun, and in the morning we will remember them. - Laurence Binyon
All site material (except as noted elsewhere) is owned or managed by Aircrew Remembered and should not be used without prior permission.
© Aircrew Remembered 2012 - 2025 Last Modified: 13 March 2021, 11:53