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Archive Report: Allied Forces

Compiled from official National Archive and Service sources, contemporary press reports, personal logbooks, diaries and correspondence, reference books, other sources, and interviews.
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10th September 1941 61 OTU Spitfire Ia X4552 Sgt. Craw

Operation: Training

Date: 10th September 1941 (Wednesday)

Unit: No. 61 Operational Training Unit. 81 Group

Type: Spitfire Ia

Serial: X4552

Code: -

Base: RAF Heston, Middlesex

Location: Burghfield, Berkshire

Pilot: Sgt. Hector Lawrence Craw NZ/404902 RNZAF Age 25. Killed

REASON FOR LOSS:

During camera gun practice whilst attempting nofollow the target aircraft which was trying to break away in a climbing turn, stalled and spun into the ground at 09:55 hrs The pilot was killed when it crashed at Burghfield.

Burial details:

Sgt. Hector Lawrence Craw. Hounslow Cemetery. Grave Plot D. Row C. Grave 3. Born at Tokomaru on the 08th September 1916. Worked as a watersider at the Port of Bluff prior to service. Enlisting at Levin on the 01st December 1940. Trained at No. 6 Flying Trains School at Dunnville, Ontario, Canada. Gained his rank and wings on the 03rd July 1941. Son of Robert and Elizabeth Craw (née Scarlett), of St. Albans, Christchurch, Canterbury, New Zealand. 165 flying hours logged.

Researched and dedicated to the relatives of this pilot with thanks to Jenifer Lemaire and to the extensive research by Errol Martyn and his publications: “For Your Tomorrow Vols. 1-3”, Auckland Library Heritage Collection, AWMM, Weekly News of New Zealand, other sources as quoted below:

KTY 16-02-2021

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Acknowledgements
Sources used by us in compiling Archive Reports include: Bill Chorley - 'Bomber Command Losses Vols. 1-9, plus ongoing revisions', Dr. Theo E.W. Boiten and Mr. Roderick J. Mackenzie - 'Nightfighter War Diaries Vols. 1 and 2', Martin Middlebrook and Chris Everitt - 'Bomber Command War Diaries', Commonwealth War Graves Commission, Tom Kracker - Kracker Luftwaffe Archives, Michel Beckers, Major Fred Paradie (RCAF) and MWO François Dutil (RCAF) - Paradie Archive (on this site), Jean Schadskaje, Major Jack O'Connor USAF (Retd.), Robert Gretzyngier, Wojtek Matusiak, Waldemar Wójcik and Józef Zieliński - 'Ku Czci Połeglyçh Lotnikow 1939-1945', Archiwum - Polish Air Force Archive (on this site), Anna Krzystek, Tadeusz Krzystek - 'Polskie Siły Powietrzne w Wielkiej Brytanii', Franek Grabowski, Norman L.R. Franks 'Fighter Command Losses', Stan D. Bishop, John A. Hey MBE, Gerrie Franken and Maco Cillessen - Losses of the US 8th and 9th Air Forces, Vols 1-6, Dr. Theo E.W. Boiton - Nachtjagd Combat Archives, Vols 1-13. Aircrew Remembered Databases and our own archives. We are grateful for the support and encouragement of CWGC, UK Imperial War Museum, Australian War Memorial, Australian National Archives, New Zealand National Archives, UK National Archives and Fold3 and countless dedicated friends and researchers across the world.
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Last Modified: 09 April 2021, 12:29

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