• Kracker Archive
• Allied Losses
• Archiwum Polish
• Paradie Canadian
• RCAF
• RAAF
• RNZAF
• USA
• Searchable Lists
Operation: Ferry Flight
Date: 27th August 1947 (Wednesday)
Unit: Ferry Flight RNZAF
Type: Mosquito FB.VI
Serial: HR375
Code: Not known
Pilot: Sq/Ldr. Richard Bruce Berney DFM. MiD. AFC. MiD. DFC (USA) NZ/40750 RNZAF Age 30. Missing - believed killed
Nav: Fl/Lt. Bernard James Beadle NZ/426159 RNZAF Age 33. Missing - believed killed
REASON FOR LOSS:
On a ferry flight from Britain to New Zealand.
Taking off during a leg at 10:19hrs from Mauripur in Pakistan en route to Santa Cruz, Bombay the escape hatch fell off. The crew landed back at the airport to have the undamaged hatch refitted. Then departed again.
Nothing further was heard from the crew but it was believed to have crashed in the Gulf of Kutch during a monsoon storm. Later that day a Dakota taking part in the search sighted what appeared to be a wing in the Arabian Sea some 20 miles off Okha. A sloop was sent to the area to carry out a search but failed to find anything.
Above: Panel 287 Runnymede Memorial (courtesy Andrea Ruddick)
Burial details:
Fl/Lt. Richard Bruce Berney. DFM. AFC. MiD. DFC (USA) Runnymede Memorial. Panel 287. Born on the 09th December 1916 at Eketahuna, the son of John Hanson Berney and Margaret Ann Berney (née George), of Masterton, Wellington, New Zealand. A farm worker for H.C. George of Alfredton prior to service. A total of 2220 flying hours with 9 of these on the Mosquito. Completed 66 operational sorties during the war. 34 with 115, 20 with 75 and 12 with 528 Squadrons.
Fl/Lt. Bernard James Beadle. Runnymede Memorial. Panel 287. Born on the 31st January 1914 at Riverton, the husband of Amelia Veronica Beadle (née Crosbie - later Shirley) A brass finisher working for G. Methven and Company at Dunedin prior to service. It is understood that Bernard served in Canada and Britain during the war but did not take part in 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:
KTY 24.08.2019
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 - 2024
Last Modified: 07 April 2021, 12:55