Operation: Training
Date: 31st May 1944
Unit: No. 12 OTU
Type: Wellington lll
Serial: BK157
Base: RAF Chipping Warden, Oxfordshire
Location: Swalcliffe, Oxfordshire
Pilot: F/O. Donald Arthur Driver 160678 RAFVR Age 20. Killed (1)
Air/Gnr: Fl/Sgt. Eric Cotterell 1430072 RAFVR Age 24. Killed
Air/Gnr: Fl/Sgt. James Harvey McGregor 978853 RAFVR Age 29. Killed
Air/Gnr: Sgt. Ernest Walter Blakeman 1837046 RAFVR Age 24. Killed
Air/Gnr: Sgt. John Alexander Oliver 1822471 RAFVR Age 19. Killed
Air/Gnr: Sgt. Frederick John Pack 1631760 RAFVR Age 22. Killed
Air/Gnr: Sgt. Joseph Henry Nixon 1898832 RAFVR Age 30. Killed
REASON FOR LOSS:
Took off at 10:05hrs from Chipping Warden for a cine camera gun detail. With a screened pilot, two screened air gunners and four trainee air gunners. Forty minutes into the flight the pilot made an evasive diving turn to port and before he could level out, the port wing folded and the bomber crashed to the ground and burst into flames.
(1) F/O. Donald Arthur Driver was awarded the DFM while serving with No. 104 Squadron in the Middle East. Gazetted on 9th July 1934
Burial details:
F/O. Donald Arthur Driver. Banbury Cemetery, Oxfordshire. Grave 11654. Son of Arthur William and Violet Clementina Driver of Wimbledon, Surrey, England.
F/Sgt. Eric Cotterell. Hounslow Cemetery. Row G. Old Ground. Grave 16. Son of Joseph Henry and Winifred Gertrude Cotterell of Hounslow, England.
Fl/Sgt. James Harvey McGregor. Wick Cemetery, Caithness. Sec. I.Grave 1195. Son of Signalman Thomas McGregor, R.N.R (killed in action 25th January 1917 aboard HMS Laurentic) and Johan G. H. McGregor of Wick.
Sgt. Ernest Walter Blakeman. Banbury Cemetery, Oxfordshire. Grave 11577. Son of William Walter and Fanny Blakeman, husband of Lena Ethel Blakeman of Cirencester, Gloucestershire, England.
Sgt. John Alexander Oliver. Huntly Cemetery, Aberdeenshire. Sec. J. Grave 1372. Son of James and Margaret Barron Oliver of Drummuir, Banffshire.
Sgt. Frederick John Pack. Fareham (Titchfield) New Cemetery, Hampshire. Sec. C. Grave 492. Son of Frederick John and Matilda Ada Pack of Titchfield, England.
Sgt. Joseph Henry Nixon. Clough Presbyterian Churchyard, Downpatrick, County Down, Northern Ireland. Son of George William and Annie Nixon of Ballywillwill, husband of Lily Mary Nixon of Fulham, London, England.
Researched by: Kate Tame Aircrew Remembered and dedicated to the relatives of the crew. Sources as quoted below.
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