Operation: Decimomannu, Sardinia, Italy

Date: 07/08th November 1942 (Saturday/Sunday)

Unit: No. 104 Squadron (motto: 'Strike hard'). 238 Wing. 205 Group.

Type: Wellington II

Serial: Z8590

Code: ER-D

Base: Kabrit, Egypt (on detachment Luqa, Malta)

Location: Jeber Chantar, Malta

Pilot: Fl/Sgt. Lincoln Leslie Arnold Craig NZ/411376 RNZAF Age 24. Killed

Pilot: F/O. Samuel Cecil Morrison 115396 RAFVR Age 22 Killed

Obs: Fl/Sgt. Herbert Henry Earney NZ/405371 RNZAF Age 22. Killed

W/Op/Air/Gnr: Sgt. Keith Langford Donald NZ/411070 RNZAF Age 23. Killed

W/Op/Air/Gnr: Sgt. Oliver Lytton Holmes 778622 RAFVR Age ? Killed

Air/Gnr: Fl/Sgt. Alastair Semple Burns Paterson Aus/406461 RAAF Age 23. Killed

REASON FOR LOSS:

Taking off at 20:40 hrs on the operation shown.

crashed into high ground crashed near Jebel Chantar situated on the south west coast of Malta, south of the town of Siggieui near the entrance to Malta Harbour.

No further information as to cause.

All six crew were killed and buried in a collective grave in the Capuccini cemetery.

Burial and personal details:

Sgt. Lincoln Leslie Arnold Craig. Malta Naval Cemetery (Capuccini) , Malta Prot. Sec. (Men's). Plot F. Coll. grave 13. Born on the 22nd January 1918 at Waiuku. Worked as a clerk for Land and Income Tax Department in Wellington. Enlisted at Levin on the 02nd March 1941. Trained initially at No. 3 Elementary Flying Training School joining 11th April 1941. Further training at No. 2 Flying Training School on 25th May 1941 Pilots badge awarded on the 05th July 1941 and promoted to sergeant on the 16th August 21941. Embarked for England on the 31st August 1941. Further training with various units joining 21 Operational Training Unit on the 20th January 1942. Flew a Wellington whilst serving with 1 Overseas Delivery Unit on the 29th May 1942 to Malta via Gibraltar. Son of William (died 06th November 1959, age 86) and Edith Maria Craig (née Logan - died 20th March 1964 age 82) and husband of Vera Mary Craig (née Shackleton), of Hunterville, Wellington, New Zealand. A total of 478 flying hours logged and on his 28th operational sortie.

F/O. Samuel Cecil Morrison. Malta Naval Cemetery (Capuccini) , Malta Prot. Sec. (Men's). Plot F. Coll. grave 13. Born on the 22nd June 1920 on the Creggan Road in Londonderry. He married Margaret Elizabeth Barclay on the 27th May 1942 in Runcorn, Cheshire. Son of Samuel and Rebecca Charlotte Morrison, of Londonderry, Northern Ireland and husband of Margaret Elizabeth Morrison (née Barclay).

Fl/Sgt. Herbert Henry Earney. Malta Naval Cemetery (Capuccini) , Malta Prot. Sec. (Men's). Plot F. Coll. grave 13. Born on the 14th September 1920 at Auckland. Worked as a postman for the P an T Department at Auckland. Enlisted at Levin on the 22nd December 1940. Embarked for Canada on the 29th April 1940. Air Observer badge and promoted to sergeant on the 15th September 1941. Embarked for England on the 23rd October 1941. Further training with 11 and 15 Operational Training Unit. Attached to 10 Air Delivery Unit on the 07th June 1942 and crewed a Wellington to Malta via Gibraltar on the 09th June 1942. Joined 104 squadron in June 192. Attached to 108 squadron flying 2 operational sorties on the Liberator. Son of Sidney Herbert and Olive Earney, of Avondale, Auckland, New Zealand. A total of 413 flying hours logged and on his 19th operational sortie.

Sgt. Keith Langford Donald. Malta Naval Cemetery (Capuccini) , Malta Prot. Sec. (Men's). Plot F. Coll. grave 13. Born on the 04th December 1918 at Masterton. Worked as a farm hand for L.F. Balinger in Linton prior to service. In NZ territorial army for 2 years. Enlisted at Levin on the 16th February 1941. Embarked for Canada on the 27th March 1941. Air gunner badge and promoted to sergeant on the 29th September 1941. Embarked for England on the 12th October 1942. Further training with 21 and 15 Operational Training Units. Attached to 10 Air Delivery Unit on the 07th June 1942 and crewed a Wellington to Malta via Gibraltar on the 11th June 1942. Joined 104 squadron on the 07th June 1942. Son of Alexander Donald, and of Elizabeth Margaret Donald (née Joy), of Paekakariki, Wellington, New Zealand. A total of 324 flying hours logged and on his 30th operational sortie.

Sgt. Oliver Lytton Holmes. Malta Naval Cemetery (Capuccini) , Malta Prot. Sec. (Men's). Plot F. Coll. grave 13. Believed to be from Rhodesia, South Africa. No further details, are you able to assist?

Fl/Sgt. Alastair Semple Burns Paterson. Malta Naval Cemetery (Capuccini) , Malta Prot. Sec. (Men's). Plot F. Coll. grave 13. Born on the 02nd February 1919 at Roselin, Scotland. Enlisted in the RAAF on the 09th December 1940 at Perth. Son of Gilbert Alexander and Jessie Burns Paterson, of 4 Bowman Street, South Perth, Western Australia.

Researched and dedicated to the relatives of this crew with thanks 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, Twisted Limbs Website for photo of F/O. Morrison , other sources as quoted below:

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