Operation: Training

Date: 28th July 1942 (Tuesday)

Unit: No. 32 Squadron (11 Group)

Type: Hurricane IIc

Serial: HL655

Code: GZ-?

Base: RAF West Malling, Kent

Location: English Channel

Pilot: P/O. Keith Henry Iveson Easton NZ/412664 RNZAF Age 21. Killed

REASON FOR LOSS:

So many aircrew were lost during the war - many of them not recorded as having been lost during various training exercises. All of whom ready to take up the fight!

This is sadly yet another.

Taking off on an air firing practise at around 15:45 hrs and during a steep turn towards his target just 15 minutes later, P/O. Easton entered a spin. During an over correction of that and before he could rectify the problem the Hurricane crashed into the English Channel off Shoreham, killing the New Zealand pilot.

Just the previous month, on the 26th June, Sgt H.E. Love flying the same aircraft during a roadstead operation off Fecamp in the early morning, the aircraft was damaged but repaired and re-entered service.

Burial details:

P/O. Keith Henry Iveson Easton. Brookwood Military Cemetery 2.I.1A. Son of Charles Ernest and Fanny Selina Easton, of Onehunga, Auckland, New Zealand. Brother to Hone Iveson Easton, Ernest Iveson Easton, Geraldine Easton, Ivan Easton and Helen Shirley Easton. Lived in Gisborne prior to enlisting. Worked as a survey draughtsman. Total of 275 flying hours logged with 16 of these solo and 89 on this aircraft type. He had completed 1 operational sortie. No grave epitaph as the New Zealand Government were against the practice of charging relatives for this (The practice was later withdrawn see your CWGC explained)

Researched and dedicated to the relatives of this pilot with thanks to the research by Errol Martyn and his publications: “For Your Tomorrow Vols. 1-3”, Auckland War Memorial Museum, Weekly News of New Zealand, other sources as quoted below:

At the going down of the sun, and in the morning we will remember them. - Laurence Binyon
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