Operation: Training

Date: 12th March 1943 (Friday)

Unit: No. 1661 Heavy Conversion Unit. 5 Group

Type: Lancaster I

Serial: R5556

Code: KM-C

Base: RAF Winthorpe, Nottinghamshire.

Location: Cromwell, Nottinghamshire

Pilot (Inst): Fl/Lt. James Cowan DFC. NZ/411861 RNZAF Age 30. Killed

Pilot (U/T): Sgt. Anthony Richard Burgess 1315656 RAFVR Age 21. Killed

Fl/Eng: Sgt. Douglas William Lovelady 577026 RAFVR Age 19. Killed

Nav: Fl/Sgt. Albert Edward Hannay R/115553 RCAF Age 24. Killed

Air/Bmr: Sgt. Eric Hall 1576096 RAFVR Age 22. Killed

W/Op/Air/Gnr: Fl/Sgt. Howard Victor Adams 1100855 RAFVR Age 22. Killed

Air/Gnr: Sgt. Stanley Charles Johnson 900321 RAFVR Age 22. Killed

Air/Gnr: Sgt. Albert Edward Clark 1600432 RAFVR Age 19. Killed

Ground Crew: LAC. Kenneth Thomas Robson 1160792 RAFBR Age 21. Killed

Ground Crew: AC.I. Leonard James Rogers 1462732 RAFVR Age 21. Killed

REASON FOR LOSS:

During a general flying practice but came down at 17:45 hrs following an uncontrollable fire in the outer port engine. All eight crew were killed as well as two ground crew who were aboard this flight.

Above: Note from the pilot, Fl/Lt. James Cowan to his ground crew member LAC. Arthur Alexander Williams 1296238 RAFVR. LAC. Williams was born on the 04th July 1906 in London which made him 36 when this photograph was taken. He enlisted after the age limit was increased. He had survived the worst of the blitz in London and wanted the chance to help with the war effort. His record shows him being with 9 Squadron between 1942 and the 18th of April 1943. Before he went to 9 squadron he worked at RAF Tempsford with 138 special duties squadron.

Above as described. Wellington X3794 flown by Fl/Sgt. Eric Richmond Hunting 1291752 RAFVR was lost with all 5 crew on the 03rd September 1942 with 75 Squadron on an operation to Emden.

Above James Cowan with his 9 squadron crew. Sgt. J. Lees (Geoff) A/Bmr, Sgt. C.H Daswell (Dassy) Fl/Eng, P/O. L.J Brown (Sam) Nav, F/O. J, Cowan (Jim) Pilot, Sgt. M. Brown ( Dickie)Rear gunner, Sgt. J.H Hewenson (Hewie) W/Op/Air/Gnr and Sgt. J.A Talbot (John ) Mid-upper gunner.

Note, this Lancaster W4157 was lost the following month, see here for further details.

Burial details:

Fl/Lt. James Cowan DFC. Newark-Upon-Trent Cemetery. Sec. P. Grave 308. Born on the 10th May 1912 in Hastings. Worked as a clerk for Public Trust Office in Palmerston North. Enlisted at Levin as a pilot under training on the 23rd March 1941. With No. 2 Elementary Flying Training School on the 03rd May 1941. No. 3 Flying Training School 14th June 1941. The pilot badge was awarded on the 26th of July 1941 and commissioned on the 06th of September 1941.

Embarked for England on the 14th September 1941, With Personnel Reception Centre 17th October 1941. With 1513 Beam Approach Training Flight 03rd November 1941. 12 Operational Training Unit 18th November 1941 for training on the Wellington on the 18th November 1941. Joined 9 squadron on the 12th March 1942. Carried out 26 operational sorties.

Uninjured on take-off crash on 06/07th June 1942 on an operation to Emden. Wellington III Z1575 caught fire after a forced landing and despite actions from the crash crew, the aircraft burnt out. Joined 1661 Heavy Conversion Unit as an instructor on the 11th of December 1942. attached to No. 3 Flying Training School, December - February 1942. Total of 727 flying hours logged.

Son of James Cowan (died 06th March 1921, age 44) and of Lily Cowan (née Vickers - died 24th September 1966, age 88), of Hastings, Hawke's Bay, New Zealand.

Sgt. Anthony Richard Burgess. Newark-Upon-Trent Cemetery. Sec. P. Grave 309A. Son of Richard Samuel and Iva Ellen Burgess, of Oxford, England. Epitaph: 'I Saw The Powers Of Darkness Put To Flight, I Saw The Morning Break'.

Sgt. Douglas William Lovelady. Bootle Cemetery. Sec. 4. Nonconformist. Grave 415. Born in March 1924 in West Derby. Son of William Henry and Gertrude Rachel Lovelady, of Litherland, Liverpool. Epitaph: 'In Treasured, Loving Memory Of Our Dear Son Safe Home'.

Fl/Sgt. Albert Edward Hannay. Newark-Upon-Trent Cemetery. Sec. P. Grave 310. Born on the 13th of September 1918 in McGee. Enlisted on the 09th July 1941 in Saskatoon. Son of John (died 12th March 1939, age 57) and Agness Johnston Hannay (died 05th August 1946, age 69), of McGee, Saskatchewan, Canada. Epitaph: 'Forever Young They Live And Laugh In God's Eternal Spring'.

Sgt. Eric Hall. Birmingham Municipal Crematorium. Column 1. Son of George Arthur (died in 1970, age 88) and Annie Hall née Richards - died 1973, the 89), of Harborne, Birmingham, England.

Fl/Sgt. Howard Victor Adams. Liverpool Cemetery (Allerton). Sec. 2E. C. of E. Grave 102. Born on the 01st February 1921 in Brentdord, London. Son of William James Howard Adams (died 03rd December 1949, age 66) and Mabel Katherine Adams (née Copeland - died 11th November 1976, age 88), of Liverpool.

Sgt. Stanley Charles Johnson. Tottenham Cemetery. Grave 13. Son of Charles Henry and Elizabeth Johnson, of Tottenham. Epitaph 'Not A Day Do We Forget You, Stan. We Who Loved You Still Sadly Miss You'.

Sgt. Albert Edward Clark. Mortlake Cemetery. Plot 14. Sec. C. Grave 208. Son of Albert Edward and Daisy Clark, of Notting Hill, London, England. Epitaph: 'In Loving Memory Of Our Dear Son. A Memory That Will Not Fade A Love That Cannot Die'.

LAC. Kenneth Thomas Robson. Shepshed Cemetery. Plot 127. Grave 24. Son of Thomas Edward and Elsie Annie Robson, of Shepshed; husband of Ethel Eliza Robson, of Shepshed. Epitaph: 'In Life Beloved In Death Honoured In Our Hearts For Ever'.

AC.I. Leonard James Rogers. Pitsea Old Cemetery (St. Michael). Grave 928. Born on the 28th May 1921 in Poplar, London. Worked as a General Labourer at an Oil Works. Son of George William and Ada Mary Rogers, of Pitsea, Basildon, in south Essex, England. Epitaph: 'Sweet Is The Memory Of Those That Loved Him'.

Researched and dedicated to the relatives of this crew with thanks to William Williams (grandson of the ground crew who serviced this aircraft), 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, Air Museum of New Zealand, other sources as quoted below:

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