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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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RAF Crest

Operation: Training

Date: 10th August 1940 (Saturday)

Unit: No. 5 Operational Training Unit. 10 Group

Type: Blenheim IF

Serial: L6799

Code: -

Base: RAF Aston Down, Gloucestertshire

Location: At airfield

Pilot (Inst): P/O. George Gordon Crawford 41673 RAF Age 23. Killed

Pilot (U/T): Sgt. John Martin Oxtoby 754620 RAFVR Age 20. Killed

REASON FOR LOSS:

Whilst on the ground stuck by Spitfire L1063 flown by 20 year old, Sgt. Edward Wilson 745647 RAFVR from the same unit which was in the process of taking off. Both of the Blenheim crew were killed.

Sgt. Wilson died of his injuries later the same day.

Burial and personal details:

P/O. George Gordon Crawford. Brimscombe Cemetery. Sec. 4. Grave 49. Born on the 22nd July 1917 at Christchurch although on his enlistment gave his birth year as 1918. A storekeeper at his fathers store prior to service. Enlisted on the 20th October 1937 at Christchurch. Discharged from the RNZAF as selected for a RAF short service commission on the 05th November 1938/ Awarded his pilots badge on the 04th September 1939. Joined 29 squadron on the 03rd October 1039. Then joining 23 squadron on the 10th November 1939. Joined 5 OTU as an instructor pilot on the 11th June 1940. Son of George and Annie Crawford (nee Stone), of Riccanton, Christchurch, Canterbury, New Zealand. Grave inscription: 'Loved Son Of Annie And The Late George Crawford. Christchurch, N.Z. And Carluke, Scotland'. A total of 369 flying hours logged. 7 operational sorties carried out whilst with 23 squadron.

Sgt. John Martin Oxtoby. Holme-on-Spalding Churchyard. (All Saints). Sec. B. Grave 77. Son of Christopher (died 17th June 1951) and Blanche (died 22nd September 1957) Oxtoby, of Holme on Spalding Moor. Grave inscription: 'He Gave His Life For His Country'

Spitfire:

Sgt. Edward Cyril James Wilson. Harrow Weald Cemetery. Sec. C. Grave 792. Foster-son of Walter Henry and Mary Anna Reynolds of Harrow Weald, London, England. Grave inscription: 'In Proud And Loving Memory'.

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 15-03-2021

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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 Captain 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', Andrew Mielnik: Archiwum - Polish Air Force Archive (on this site), Anna Krzystek, Tadeusz Krzystek - 'Polskie Siły Powietrzne w Wielkiej Brytanii', Franek Grabowski, Polish graves: https://niebieskaeskadra.pl/, PoW Museum Żagań, 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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