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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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23rd February 1942 41 OTU Magister I T9884 P/O. Bright

Operation: Training

Date: 23rd February 1942 (Monday)

Unit: No. 41 Operational Training Unit. 70 Group

Type: Magister I

Serial: T9884

Code: -

Base: RAF Old Sarum, Wiltshire

Location: Wincanton, Somerset

Pilot: P/O. Ernest William Bright NZ/412651 RNZAF Age 25. Killed

Pilot: P/O. David George West NZ/412772 RNZAF Age 22. Killed

REASON FOR LOSS:

During a training exercise they dived towards the ground, pulled up sharply and the aircraft stalled and spun into the ground at 10:45 hrs. Both New Zealand pilots lost their life.

41 Operational Training Unit formed from the Training Squadron of No 1 School of Army Co-operation at Old Sarum on the 20th September 1941 within No 70 Group to train tactical reconnaissance pilots using Lysanders and Tomahawks.

Burial details:

P/O. Ernest William Bright. Salisbury Cemetery (London Road). Sec. M. Grave 202. Born on the 16th February 1916 at Gisborne. A clerk prior to service. Enlisted 03rd May 1941 at Levin. Son of Harold Ernest Bright and of Flora Bright (née Read Bloomfield), of Wainui Beach, Auckland, New Zealand. 192 flying hours logged

P/O. David George West. Salisbury Cemetery (London Road). Sec. M. Grave 203. Born on the 22nd December 1918 at Palmerston North. A draughtsman for L.G West and Sons, architects. Enlisted at Levin on the 04th May 1941 Son of Ernst Vilhelm West and Carrie West (née Buick), of Palmerston North, Wellington, New Zealand. 399 flying hours logged. His brother, Sq/Ldr. Peter Wynn Mason West, DFC. also died on service. On the 04th July 1942 whilst with 61 Squadron piloting Lancaster I R5488 lost on a 'Gardening' operation off the Danish coast.

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

KTY 15-02-2021

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Acknowledgements
Sources used by us in compiling Archive Reports include: Bill Chorley - 'Bomber Command Losses Vols. 1-9, plus ongoing revisions', Dr. Theo E.W. Boiten and Mr. Roderick J. Mackenzie - 'Nightfighter War Diaries Vols. 1 and 2', Martin Middlebrook and Chris Everitt - 'Bomber Command War Diaries', Commonwealth War Graves Commission, Tom Kracker - Kracker Luftwaffe Archives, Michel Beckers, Major Fred Paradie (RCAF) and Captain François Dutil (RCAF) - Paradie Archive (on this site), Jean Schadskaje, Major Jack O'Connor USAF (Retd.), Robert Gretzyngier, Wojtek Matusiak, Waldemar Wójcik and Józef Zieliński - 'Ku Czci Połeglyçh Lotnikow 1939-1945', Andrew Mielnik: Archiwum - Polish Air Force Archive (on this site), Anna Krzystek, Tadeusz Krzystek - 'Polskie Siły Powietrzne w Wielkiej Brytanii', Franek Grabowski, Polish graves: https://niebieskaeskadra.pl/, PoW Museum Żagań, Norman L.R. Franks 'Fighter Command Losses', Stan D. Bishop, John A. Hey MBE, Gerrie Franken and Maco Cillessen - Losses of the US 8th and 9th Air Forces, Vols 1-6, Dr. Theo E.W. Boiton - Nachtjagd Combat Archives, Vols 1-13. Aircrew Remembered Databases and our own archives. We are grateful for the support and encouragement of CWGC, UK Imperial War Museum, Australian War Memorial, Australian National Archives, New Zealand National Archives, UK National Archives and Fold3 and countless dedicated friends and researchers across the world.
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