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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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R.A.F. Crest
07/08.12.1942 No.21 (O.T.U.) Wellington IC DV425 Sgt. Vincent T. Drew

Operation: Training - night circuits and landings.

Date: 7/8th December 1942 (Monday/Tuesday).

Unit: No. 21 (OTU) Operational Training Unit.

Type: Vickers Armstrong Wellington IC

Base: RAF Moreton-in-Marsh.

Serial No: DV425

Location: High Furze, Tidmington, 1 mile W of Burmington, Warwickshire.

Pilot: Sgt. Vincent Thomas Drew 1219728 RAFVR Age 28. Killed.

W/Op/Air/Gnr: Sgt. Cyril Edward Raggett 1332125 RAFVR Age 20. Killed.

Air/Gnr: Sgt. Laurie Arthur McGuire AUS/412070 RAAF Age 23. Killed.

REASON FOR LOSS:

This aircraft took off from its base at Moreton-in-Marsh for night circuits and landings. While so engaged it began to rain quite heavily and the crew were advised to hold off until the storm had passed. 

Unfortunately, control of the aircraft was lost and the bomber came down four miles downwind of the flare path at 00.05 hours, hitting the high ground at High Furze, which lies approximately two miles SSW of Shipston-on-Stour, Warwickshire. Sadly all three crew members perished in the crash.

High Furze on right, behind trees (courtesy Michael Dibb - see credits)

Left: Grave of Sgt. Vincent Thomas Drew (courtesy Graeme Clarke)

Burial details:

Sgt. Drews lies in the Walsall (Ryecroft) Cemetery. Sec 14. Grave. 317. Son of George and Sarah Jane Drew, of Walsall, husband of Elsie Drew, of Great Barr, Birmingham, England.

Sgt. Raggett rests in Hoo St. Werburgh Churchyard, Kent. Son of Cecil Edward and Clara Blanche Raggett, of Hoo, Kent, England.

Sgt. McGuire was buried locally at Moreton-in-Marsh New Cemetery. Sec.K Grave.32. Son of Albert John and Eliza McGuire, of Kingstown New South Wales, Australia.

Researched with thanks to Graeme Clarke for sending the grave photograph. With thanks to Michael Dibb for area photograph.

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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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