Operation: Local flying sortie

Date: 11th May 1945 (Friday)

Unit: No. 105 OTU (Operational Training Unit)

Type: Wellingron X

Serial: NC713

Code: -

Base: RAF Bitteswell.

Location: Bitteswell, Leicestershire

Pilot: W/O. Frederick William Duck (Freddie) 591136 RAF Age 24. Killed

Nav: W/O. Norman William Wynn 1194206 RAFVR Age 32. Killed

W/Op/Air/Gnr: W/O. Joseph Donald Ormesher 1070646 RAFVR Age ? Killed

REASON FOR LOSS:

105 Operational Training Unit formed in order to retrain crews for Transport Command. The unit used mainly Wellington aircraft and with the obvious reduced crew members. Dakota's were more widely used later on to replace the ageing Wellingtons. Even after the end of the war in Europe there was still a need for crew training, as there was the Japanese war still outstanding, for which the RAF were planning to take a direct part.

In August No.105 OTU became renamed No.1381 Transport Conversion Unit, a more fitting title as it was then converting experienced crews on to the Dakota. This form of activity continued until the TCU transferred to Desborough on the 21st of November 1945.

Wellington NC713 had been airborne for 19 minutes on a local flying sortie and it was W/O. Freddie Duck's first solo flight on this type of aircraft and at night! After experiencing some problems with the engines Freddie requested an emergency landing and was on its finals to the airfield when he allowed the aircraft to stall.

The Wellington then dived into the ground before he could recover the aircraft and was totally burnt out. The aircraft came down 3 miles South East of the airfield.

Burial details:

W/O. Frederick William Duck (Freddie). Hull Western Cemetery. Compt. 244. Grave 23647. Son of Alfred and Daisy Duck, of Hull and husband of Joan Duck, of Wakefield, Yorkshire, England

W/O. Norman William Wynn. Tettenhall Regis (St. Michael) Churchyard. Son of Emma Wynn, of Finchfield. Grave inscription reads: "At The Going Down Of The Sun And In The Morning Light We Shall Always Remember".

W/O. Joseph Donald Ormesher. Ormskirk (SS. Peter and Paul) Churchyard. Grave 327. No further details - Are you able to assist?

Researched for Nick Dixon - nephew of W/O. Freddie Duck. With thanks to the following: Colin Cummings - The Price of Peace.