Operation: Training

Date: 04th February 1941 (Tuesday)

Unit: No. 20 Operational Training Unit. 6 Group

Type: Wellington Ic

Serial: R1005

Code: Not issued

Base: RAF Lossiemouth, Scotland

Location: North Sea

Pilot: P/O. Ivan Basil Clausen NZ/40754 RNZAF Age 24. Killed

Pilot: P/O. Harry George Craigmile 87648 RAFVR Age ? Killed

Obs: Sgt. Phillip Gordon Fazackerley RAFVR Age 28. Survived - injured

W/Op/Air/Gnr: P/O. Andrew Hamilton Clark Gibson 82982 RAFVR Age 33. Missing - believed killed

W/Op/Air/Gnr: Sgt. Robert Oakes 745949 RAFVR Age 23. Killed

Air/Gnr: Sgt. A.W. Harris RAFVR Age ? Survived - injured

(we are not 100% sure of crew positions shown - if you are able to advise further it would be appreciated)

REASON FOR LOSS:

Taking off from RAF Lossiemouth at around 18:30 hrs on a night cross country exercise and a practice bombing sortie.

On return from the exercise they were given a green light at 22:05 hrs to land back at base. As they were approaching a red signal was then displayed as an aircraft was obstructing the flight path.

The aircraft then turned to port but lost height rapidly and crashed into the North Sea just off Lossiemouth.

On the same day another 20 OTU Wellington Ic crashed:

R1367 Flown by 21 year old, Sgt. Daniel Munro Walker NZ/40668 RNZAF who died from his injuries after the aircraft crashed whilst circling the field at 10:40 hrs. 3 others were also killed but 2 survived seriously injured, but it is understood they recovered and returned to service.

From 18 OTU Wellington Ic R1298 crashed, killing all the crew of 10 including 24 year old, Sgt. Walter Lionel Gosden NZ/39859 RNZAF. Further details here.

Burial details:

P/O. Ivan Basil Clausen. Lossiemouth Burial Ground. Grave 1088. Born on the 02nd August 1916 at Palmerston, the son of Arthur Edward Clausen and of Wilhelmina Margaret Clausen (née Mortesen), of Palmerston North, Wellington, New Zealand. Prior to enlisting he worked for Wilkinson, Campbell and White as an accountant. A total of 220 flying hours logged.

P/O. Harry George Craigmile. Aberdeen Cemetery (Grove). Grave 3796. No further details - are you able to assist?

P/O. Andrew Hamilton Clark Gibson. Runnymede Memorial. Panel 32. Son of Andrew Hamilton Clark Gibson and Alice Gibson. Husband of Mary Danella Roxburgh Gibson, of Helensburgh, Dumbartonshire, Scotland.

Sgt. Robert Oakes. Manchester Southern Cemetery. Sec. I.R.C. Grave 1097. Son of Joseph and Annie Oates, of Withington, Manchester, England.

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:

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