Operation: Navigation exercise

Date: 29th June 1944 (Monday)

Unit: No. 22 Operational Training Unit. 91 Group

Type: Wellington III

Serial: HF641

Code: -

Base: RAF Wellesbourne Mountford, Warwickshire

Location: Roade, Northamptonshire

Pilot: F/O. Robert John Andrews J/27301 RCAF Age 21. Killed

Nav U/T: F/O. Charles Edward Stephen J/36296 RCAF Age 30. Killed

Nav U/T: Sgt. John Berge Sollie R/150594 RCAF Age 23. Killed

Air/Bmt: F/O. Paul William Tokar J/27116 RCAF Age 22. Killed

W/Op/Air/Gnr: Sgt. William Howard Clark R/1993583 RCAF Age 22. Killed

Air/Gnr: Sgt. Allan Hustead Mackimmie R/260780 RCAF Age 18. Killed

REASON FOR LOSS:

Taking off on a navigational cross country exercise at 13:35 hrs.

During the operation the Wellington was struck by lightning and exploded in mid-air and crashed at 17:20 hrs.

In 2014 the Roade Local History Society erected a memorial to the 6 young Canadians at the village war memorial
(see links below),

Burial and other details:

All the crew were buried on Tuesday the 04th July 1944.

F/O. Robert John Andrews Brookwood Military Cemetery. Grave 54.J.6. Born on the 29th May 1923 in Ontario. Awarded pilot wings on the 11th June 1943. Son of Ray Elwood Andrews and Vera Sybille Andrews, of 38 Yarmouth Road, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Epitaph: 'As Long As Life And Memory Last We Shall Remember Thee, "Dear Bob".

F/O. Charles Edward Stephen. Brookwood Military Cemetery. Grave 54.J.4. Born on the 22nd December 1913 in Quebec. Educated at O'Sullivan Business College. Enlisted on the 10th July 1943. Son of Alfred Harold and Daisy Caroline Stephen (née Smith), of 3456 St. Famille Street, Montreal, Province of Quebec, Canada; (parents originate from England) Husband of Annie Mary Stephen (née Saunders - married 28th June 1941)), of 61799 Chamber Street, Montreal, Canada. Brother of Douglas, Donald, Phyllis, Helen and Barbara. Epitaph: 'At The Going Down Of The Sun And In The Morning We Will Remember Him'.

Sgt. John Berge Sollie. Brookwood Military Cemetery. Grave 54.J.2. Born on the 11th August 1920. Enlisted on the 10th January 1942. Awarded air observer badge 11th February 1944. Son of Christian Theodor Sollie and Emma Petrika (née Jensen) Sollie, of Bentley, Alberta, Canada. (parents originate from Norway). His brother, Roald Frederick Sollie also lost his life on the 05th March 1945, Epitaph: 'We Loved You Much We Miss You More Our God We Trust Love And Adore'.

F/O. Paul William Tokar. Brookwood Military Cemeter. Grave 54.J.3. Born on the 12th July 1921 in Ontario. . Educated at Pelham Continuation School. Enlisted on the 21st July 1942. Son of Steven and Teckla Tokar, (parents originated from Austria), of Fenwick, Ontario, Canada. Epitaph: 'You Are Not Forgotten, Dear Nor Ever Shall Be As Long As Life And Memory Last'.

Sgt. William Howard Clark. Brookwood Military Cemetery. Grave 54.J.5. Also remembered on family grave St. Andrews and St. James Cemetery, Orillia, Ontario. Born on the 02nd October 1921 in Inglewwod, Ontario. Educated at Callander and North Bay School. Enlisted on the 17th September 1942. Awarded w/op air gunner badge on the 04th October 1943. Son of Frank Bain Clark (died 1963, age 70) and Mary Ethel Clark of Washago, Ontario, Canada.. Epitaph: 'That Whosoever Believeth In Him, Should Not Perish But Have Everlasting Life'. In Him, Should Not Perish But Have Everlasting Life".

Air/Gnr: Sgt. Allan Hustead Mackimmie. Brookwood Military Cemetery. Grave 54.J.1. Born on the 12th January 1926 in Big Valley, Alberta. Educate at Beaverlodge School, Alberta. Enlisted on the 19th July 1943. Awarded air gunner badge on the 11th February 1944. Son of Thomas William (died 01st December 1984, age 81) and Gena Nora MacKimmie (née Hustead - died 07th January 1982, age 79), brother of Grant of Port Coquitlam, British Columbia, Canada. Epitaph: 'He Is Just Away'.

Researched and dedicated to the relatives of this crew with thanks to the National Archive Kew, Government of Canada WW2 Records, Paradie RCAF Archives, Roade Local History Society, Sywell Aviation Museum (SAM)

Other pages that may interest you:

Pages regarding Accidents

Pages detailing RCAF losses

At the going down of the sun, and in the morning we will remember them. - Laurence Binyon
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