Operation: Malta - Hendon

Date: 30th August 1945 (Thursday)

Unit: No. 24 Squadron (motto: In omnia parati - Prepared for all things/Ready for anything') 47 Group Transport Command

Type: Dakota IV

Serial: KJ974

Code: -

Base: RAF Henderso, Middlesex

Location: Crestet south south east of Vaison-la-Romaine

Pilot: Lt. Anonius Johannes J. Daniëls RNNAF Age 42. Killed

Pilot 2: Piet William Ree RNNAF Age 34. Killed

Nav: F/O. Harold Oliver Young 190583 RAFVR Age 24. Killed

W/Op: F/O. Leonard Montague Francom 169142 RAFVR Age 31. Killed

Passengers:

Fl/Lt. Robert Thomas Gibson 146650 RAFVR Age ? Killed

F/O. William John Henry Henley DFC. 416486 RNZAF Age 29. Killed

P/O. Phillis Ann Collett 11235 WRNS Age 23. Killed

W/O 2. Reginald Champion 6288415 4th Bn.The Buffs (Royal East Kent Regiment) Age 27. Killed

Eileen Mary Stallworthy 83359 WRNS Age 25. Killed

Sgt. John James Kennedy Royal Artillery 68th H.A.A. Regiment Age 35. Killed

Cpl Richard Bennetta 3964087 Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers Age 26. Killed

Gnr. Arthur Wallace 11418595 Royal Artillery 68th H.A.A. Regiment Age 44. Killed

Able Seaman S.A. Cafful D/JX 396609 Royal Navy Age 24. Killed

John William Jenkins civilian working as a lecturer for the RN Age 38. Killed

REASON FOR LOSS:

Taking off from Malta in very bad weather with, it is reported, that the pilot had been warned not to take off. Piloted by a very experienced pilot Lt. Daniels of the Royal Netherlands Naval Air Service. Encountered violent thunderstorms and whilst at 600 ft control was lost and broke up in the air at 12:40 hrs. Wreckage falling near Crestet, a few kilometres SSE of Vaison-la-Romaine in France with the loss of all 4 crew and 10 other military passengers.

Burial details:

Crew:

Lt. Anonius Johannes J. Daniëls. Orry-la-Ville Netherlands Field Of Honour Grave A.1.13. Date of birth 04th November 1902. No further details, are you able to assist?

Piet William Ree. Grebbeberg War Cemetery. Born on the 14th December 1911 in Rotterdam. No further details, are you able to assist?

F/O. Harold Oliver Young. Mazargues War Cemetery, Marseilles. Plot 11. Row A. Grave 20. Son of Harry and Lilian Young, of Gillingham, Kent. Grave inscription: 'In God's keeping'.

F/O. Leonard Montague Francom. Mazargues War Cemetery, Marseilles. Plot 11. Row A. Grave 22. Son of Alfred and Gertrude Miriam Francom and husband of Doris Maud Francom, of Dagenham, Essex. Grave inscription: 'At Rest'.

Passengers:

Fl/Lt. Robert Thomas Gibson. Mazargues War Cemetery, Marseilles. Plot 11. Row A. Grave 23. No further details, are you able to assist?

F/O. William John Henry Henley DFC.. Mazargues War Cemetery, Marseilles. Plot 11. Row A. Grave 21. Born on the 18 March 1916 at Auckland. Son of William James Henley and Mabel Alice Henley, of Mount Eden, Auckland, New Zealand. 1748 flying hours logged ann completed 40 operational sorties. His brother 23 year old, P/O. Douglas Charles Henley NZ/414622 RNZAF also lost his life on Stirling III EE878 AA-PP 01st September 1943

P/O. Phillis Ann Collett. Mazargues War Cemetery, Marseilles. Plot 11. Row A. Grave 31.Daughter of Arthur Preston Collet and Sheila Collet, of Felixstowe, Suffolk. Grave inscription: 'Non Omnis Moriar' (I shall not wholly die)

W/O 2. Reginald Champion. Mazargues War Cemetery, Marseilles. Plot 11. Row A. Grave 26. Son of Raymond and Florence Katie Champion, of Whitfield Kent. Grave inscription: 'Rest In Peace'.

Eileen Mary Stallworthy. Mazargues War Cemetery, Marseilles. Plot 2. Row A. Grave 30. Daughter of Harold E. Stallworthy and Edith A. M. Stallworthy, of Bridlington, Yorkshire. Grave inscription: 'Jesu, In Thy Gracious Keeping Leave We Now Our Loved One Sleeping'.

Sgt. John James Kennedy. Mazargues War Cemetery, Marseilles. Plot 11. Row A. Grave 25. Son of Charles and Margeret Kennedy, of Liverpool and husband of Mary Ann Kennedy, of Liverpool. Grave inscription: 'Our Lady Of Lourdes Intercede For His Soul.RIP'.

Cpl Richard Bennetta. Mazargues War Cemetery, Marseilles. Plot 11. Row A. Grave 24. No further details, are you able to assist?

Gnr. Arthur Wallace. Mazargues War Cemetery, Marseilles. Plot 11. Row A. Grave 19. Son of William and Beatrice Annie Wallace and husband of W. Wallace, of Eltham, London. Grave inscription: 'Peacefully Sleeping, Resting At Last, All Life's Trials And Troubles Are Past'.

Able Seaman S.A. Cafful. Mazargues War Cemetery, Marseilles. Plot 11. Row A. Grave 29. Son of James and Florence Caffull and husband of Barbara K. Caffull, of Ledbury, Herefordshire. Grave inscription: 'We Love Him Now As We Loved Him Then; And We Trust In God We Will Meet Again'.

John William Jenkins Mazargues War Cemetery, no further details. M.Sc., Ph.D. Son of David and Mary Elizabeth Ann Jenkins, of Godrevy, Ingrave Road, Brentwood, Essex and husband of Robina Jenkins, of 31 Towers Road, Hatch End, Middlesex.

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:

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