Operation: Berlin

Date: 1/2nd October 1940 (Tuesday/Wednesday)

Unit: No. 9 Squadron

Type: Wellington IC

Serial: R3282

Code: WS-G

Base: RAF Honington, Suffolk

Location: North Sea off the coast of Lowestoft, England

Pilot: F/Lt. Charles Douglas Fox. 37797. RAF. Age 25. Killed (1)

2nd Pilot: Sgt. Ronald Edwin Thompson. 745851. RAFVR. Age ? Killed (2)

Obs: Sgt. Donald Bannerman Fleming. 743005. RAFVR. Age 26. Killed (3)

W/Op/Air/Gnr: Sgt. John Devine Robertson. 644958. RAF. Age29. Killed (4)

Air/Gnr: Sgt. Reginald Philip Sweett. 903248. RAFVR. Age 23. Killed (5)

Air/Gnr: Sgt. Charles Hugh Le Blanc Newbery. 40726. RNZAF. Age 22. Killed (6)

Above a Wellington IC type aircraft and below a map of the crash area

REASON FOR LOSS:

Wellington R3282 took off from RAF Honington at 18:15hrs with 10 Wellingtons from No. 9 Squadron for a bombing operation on Berlin. Nine aircraft returned safely at 02:15 hrs. One aircraft made a forced landing with two of the crew slightly injured. Wellington R3282 made contact at 02:46hrs reporting that the aircraft was coming down into the sea off Lowestoft owing to shortage of petrol. Nothing further was heard from the aircraft and all the crew were presumed lost at sea.

Nine aircraft from No 9 Squadron carried out a search for Wellington R3282 the following day but without success

Above: Sgt. Charles Hugh Le Blanc Newbery

Burial details:

F/Lt. Charles Douglas (Freddie) Fox. Runnymede Memorial, Surrey. Panel 4. Son of Bertram Fox of London and Elizabeth Lippitt Fox formerly of Berryville, Va, USA. (1) Freddie Fox was posted to No. 9 Squadron on the 25th July 1940 from No. 15 OTU. (Operational Training Unit) RAF Harwell. Charles Douglas Fox was granted a short service commission as Acting Pilot Office on the 4th May 1936 and on Christmas day 1936 he was posted to No. 38 (Bomber) Squadron, Mildenhall, Suffolk. He continued his training at No 8 Flying Training School, Montrose, Scotland. Confirmed as Pilot Officer 12th March 1937 and on the 15th March 1937 Charles was posted to No. 51 (Bomber) Squadron, Driffield, Yorkshire. On the 9th May 1937 he was posted to RAF Cardington, Bedfordshire. F/Lt. Fox had flown over 10 operations while with No. 9 Squadron.

Sgt. Ronald Edwin Thompson. Runnymede Memorial, Surrey. Panel 20. Son of Charles Amos and Ellen C. Cleaver of Kenilworth, Warwickshire. (2) At the time of his death Ronald's address was 9 Albion Street, Kenilworth, Warwickshire, England.

Sgt. Donald Bannerman Fleming. Runnymede Memorial, Surrey. Panel 14. Son of Mr. and Mrs. William L. Fleming of Larkhall, Lanarkshire, Scotland. (3) Donald is remembered on the Scottish National War Memorial.

Sgt. John Devine Robertson. Runnymede Memorial, Surrey. Panel 18. Born on the 30th June 1912 the eldest Son of William Ferrier and Mary Devine Robertson of 34 Fleauchar Street, Dundee, Scotland. His father died in 1919 from injuries sustained in WW1. He had two other brothers who both served in the RAF and Army, surviving the war. (4) John is remembered on the Dundee Roll of Honour.

Sgt. Reginald Philip Sweett. Runnymede Memorial, Surrey. Panel 20. Son of Philip John and Annie Sweett of Plymouth. (5) At the time of his death John's address was 90 Embankment Road, Plymouth, England.

Sgt. Charles Hugh Le Blanc Newbery. Runnymede Memorial, Surrey. Panel 27. Son of Frank and Katherine Victoria Newbery of Woolston, Christchurch, Canterbury, New Zealand. (6) Air Gunner Charles Hugh Le Blanc Newbery reported to Ground Training School, Levin, New Zealand on the 12th March 1940

Researched by: Kate Tame Aircrew Remembered and for all the relatives and friends of the crew

Acknowledgements: Many thanks to Joan Thomas (April 2016) who’s father was the youngest brother of Sgt. Robertson. With special thanks to Commonwealth War Graves Commission, UK National Archives Air27/131 & Air 27/125, Flight Archives, Auckland War Memorial, National Library of New Zealand Paperspast (Evening Post), W. R. Chorley - Bomber Command Losses of WW2 Including Prewar Losses July 1936 - September 1939, Imperial War Museum.

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