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Operation: Patrol
Date: 25th October 1941 (Saturday)
Unit: No. 125 Squadron (motto: Nunquam domandi - 'Never to be tamed') 10 Group
Type: Defiant I
Serial: T3985
Code: VA-?
Base: RAF Fairwood Common, Glamorganshire
Location: Skewen. South Glamorgan
Pilot: Sgt. Clive Alan Gillions Dale NZ/402170 RNZAF Age 20. Killed
W/Op/Air/ Gnr. Sgt. John Barron Bayliss NZ/40600 RNZAF Age ? Injured
REASON FOR LOSS:
Taking off at 22:00 hrs from RAF Fairwood Common and the swing away to starboard in error. This was described as a lack of experience or the pilot was distracted by radio traffic or a combination of both.
Seven minutes later they collided with a barrage balloon cable.
Both of the crew abandoned the aircraft. The air gunner survived with injuries from a heavy landing but it appears that it was too low for the parachute of Sgt. Dale to deploy.
The aircraft crashed into a small hill at Skewen, the body of the pilot was discovered 200 yards from the crash site in Park Crescent.
Burial details:
Sgt. Clive Alan Gillions Dale. Killay Churchyard (St Hilary of Poictiers). Grave 143. Born on the 25 August 1921 at Dunedin. Worked as a surveyor for the Public Works Department prior to service. Enlisted at Levin on the 28th July 1940.Awarded his pilots badge awarded on the 15th January 1941 and promoted to sergeant on the 08th February 1941 after training in Canada. Joined 125 squadron on the 13th July 1941 from 59 Operational Training Unit. Son of Daniel Souter Dale and of Ida Victoria Dale (nee Gillions), of Linton, Wellington, New Zealand. A total of 303 flying hours logged.
Researched and dedicated to the relatives of this crew 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, other sources as quoted below:
KTY 10-04-2021
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Last Modified: 10 April 2021, 13:23