Operation: Training

Date: 14th November 1942 (Saturday)

Unit: No. 9 (O) Advanced Flying Unit. 25 Group

Type: Anson I

Serial: DJ628

Code: -

Base: RAF Penrhos

Location: Irish Sea

Pilot: Sgt. Trevor Morgan Blakemore NZ/413016 RNZAF Age 21. Missing - believed killed

Obs (Inst): P/O. Keith Charman 126875 RAFVR Age 30. Missing - believed killed

W/Op/Air/Gnr: Sgt. John George (Ian) Cairns 1550985 RAFVR Age 20. Missing - believed killed

W/Op/Air/Gnr: Sgt. John Mallett 1292768 RAFVR Age 22. Killed

Obs (U/T): LAC. Ronald Adam Simpson 1498390 RAFVR Age 19. Killed

REASON FOR LOSS:

Taking off from RAF Llandwrog at 01:25 hrs on a night navigation exercise. Route from base - 25 miles WSW of Bardsey Island - 20 miles NE of Point Lynas - Anglesey - Thyl - Conway - base. Failed to respond to a general recall message sent at 02:50 hrs due to deteriorating weather conditions.

It was later found that DJ628 crashed into the Irish Sea about 4 mile NW of Penrhos. Only two of the crew's bodied were recovered.

Burial and personal details:

Sgt. Trevor Morgan Blakemore. Runnymede Memorial. Panel 117. Born on the 10th July 1921 at Sutherlands. Worked as a postman exchange clerk for P and T Department at Pleasant Point prior to service. Enlisted at Levin on the 25th May 1941. Trained at No. 1 Elementary Flying Training School joining on the 06th June 1941. Then attached to No. 1 Flying Training School joining on 16th August 1941. Awarded pilots badge on the 18th October 1941 and promoted to sergeant on the 24th November 1941. Embarked for England on the 18th December 1941. Further training with No. 3 Pilot Advanced Flying Unit then joined No. 9 (O) Advanced Flying Unit. as a staff pilot on the 30th May 1942. Son of William Henry and Annie Elizabeth Blakemore (nee Campon), of Timaru, Canterbury, New Zealand. A total of 555 flying hours logged.

P/O. Keith Charman. Runnymede Memorial. Panel 68. Son of Walter and Lucy Charman, of Guildford, Surrey, England.

Sgt. John George (Ian) Cairns. Runnymede Memorial. Panel 79. Son of James and Margaret Lily Cairns, of Kirkintilloch, Dunbartonshire, Scotland. His brother 22 year old, Fl/Sgt. Allan Grant Cairns 997925 RAFVR, also died on service in Rhodesia on 24th July 1942.

Sgt. John Mallett. City Of London Cemetery And Crematorium. Square 116. Grave 110559. Son of Percival John and Edith Emily Mallett, of Forest Gate, London, England.

LAC. Ronald Adam Simpson, Pwllheli Borough Cemetery. Sec. B. Row E. Grave 25. Son of Ronald D. Simpson and Marie Simpson, of Longtown, Cumberland, England. Grave inscription 'The Flowers Of The Forest Are A' Wede Awae'.

Researched and dedicated to the relatives of this pilot with thanks to the extensive research by Errol Martyn and his publications: “For Your Tomorrow Vols. 1-3”, Auckland Library Heritage Collection, Weekly News of New Zealand, other sources as quoted below:

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