Operation: Anti-Shipping

Date: 7th November 1942 (Saturday)

Unit No: 224 Squadron, Coastal Command

Type: Liberator III

Serial: FK245

Code: XB:C

Base: RAF Beaulieu

Location 1 mile short of RAF Beaulieu

Pilot: Flt Sgt. Kenneth Crabtree 1378372 RAFVR Age 31. KiA

Pilot: Sgt. Ronald Sydney Horsley 1377433 RAFVR Age 31. KiA

Flt Eng: Sgt. Kenneth Edward Hunt 1274114 RAFVR Age 20. KiA

Nav: Sgt. Arthur William Colston 925920 RAFVR Age 20. KiA

WOp/Air Gnr: Flt Sgt Eric Simonds Bayley 1057894 RAFVR Age 32. KiA

WOp/Air Gnr: Sgt. Roland William James Harrison 1124085 RAFVR Age 22. KiA

WOp/Air Gnr: Sgt. Henry Rupert Jennings 920231 RAFVR Age 24. KiA

REASON FOR LOSS:

Taking off 08:49 hrs on an Anti-Shipping patrol.

On final approach to RAF Beaulieu the aircraft crashed one mile short from the runway at 19:30 hrs. The Squadron ORB provides no information other than the aircraft crashed on landing and subsequently exploded.

Geoffrey Goodwin has contacted Aircrew Remembered. His mother was a good friend of Sgt. Henry R. Jennings’ sister Eva, whose explanation was that the aircraft had intended to land in Cornwall after the mission due to low fuel level. This turned out to be impossible due to fog at the airfield in Cornwall, so the aircraft diverted to Beaulieu but ran out of fuel before it could land. It should be noted that this explanation has not been corroborated.

A interesting and informative video entitled "Discovering WW2 Relics at RAF Beaulieu" has been filmed by Marc Heighway which speaks of Flt Sgt. Crabtree and Sgt. Hunt along with the history of RAF Beaulieu and what remains today. The video time stamps for the mentions are:

• 5 mins 17 seconds
• 7 mins 45 seconds
• 15 mins 46 seconds

Burial details

Left and middle: Images of grave markers for Flt Sgt. Crabtree and Sgt. Hunt courtesy of Marc Heighway; right: marker for Sgt. Jennings courtesy Steve Hunnisett.

Flt Sgt. Kenneth Crabtree. Boldre Churchyard (St John). Row 1, Grave 4. Son of Frank Crabtree and Rose Olive Crabtree of Bingley, Yorkshire. Husband of Ida Crabtree of Bingley, Yorkshire, England. Grave inscription reads: "Rest In Peace".

Sgt. Ronald Sydney Horsley. Coulsdon Churchyard (St John). Grave 538. Husband of Ethel Horsley and father of Malcolm and Anne of Tollers Lane, Old Coulsdon, Surrey, England.

Sgt. Kenneth Edward Hunt. Boldre Churchyard (St John). Row 1, Grave 2. Born in the 2nd quarter of 1922 in Camberwell, Greater London. Son of Edward and Dorothy Lilian olive (née Jury) Hunt of Camberwell, Greater London, England. His mother predeceased him in 1935. Brother to Pamela Dorothy (née Grady) Hunt (1925-1997).

Sgt. Arthur William Colston. Bristol Cemetery (Arnos Vale). Plot RR, Grave 760. Son of William and Clara Colston of Southville, Bristol, England.

Flt Sgt. Eric Simonds Bayley. Manchester Southern Cemetery, Section S. C of E, Grave 5973. Son of George Henry and Martha Florence Bayley of Manchester. Husband of Ida Bayley of Higher Crumpsall, Manchester, England.

Sgt. Roland William James Harrison. Burnley Cemetery, Grave A 10305. Born on the 18th September 1920 in Burnley, Lancashire. Son of William Harold and Clara (née Pilkington) Harrison and husband to Doris (née Thornber) Harrison from Burnley, Lancashire, England.

Sgt. Henry Rupert Jennings. Charlton Cemetery, Greenwich. Section S (2nd Cons.) Grave 599. Son of Henry Hough Jennings and Eva Florence Jennings of Greenwich, London, England.

Researched by Steve Hunnisett for Aircrew Remembered - April 2019 and dedicated to the relatives of this crew. Thanks to Marc Heighway for the grave marker images for Flt Sgt. Crabtree, Sgt. Hunt and for the link to his RAF Beaulieu video. (Oct 2020). Thanks to Geoffrey Goodwin for an explanation as to the cause of the aircraft loss. (May 2023)

Other sources listed below:

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