Operation: Training
Date: 14th June 1943 (Wednesday)
Unit: No. 827 Squadron. Fleet Air Arm
Type: Barracuda II
Serial: P9728
Code: -
Base: HMS Jackdaw II Dunino, Fifeshire
Location: Firth of Forth
Pilot: Sub-Lt (A) Albert Neville Eaton RNZNVR Age 24. Killed
Nav: Sub-Lt. James Major Dunn RNVR Age 21. Missing - believed killed
W/Op/Air/Gnr: P/O. Frank Harry Rowe FX/115026 RN Age 29. Killed
REASON FOR LOSS:
Taking off from RAF Crail on a dive bombing training exercise.
Whilst over the Dalgetty range, failed to recover after spinning 1.5 turns and crashed into the Firth of Forth a miles west of Inchkeith at 10:20 hrs. Two of the crew bodies were recovered, the navigator remaning missing.
Burial details:
Sub-Lt (A) Albert Neville Eaton. Crail Cemetery. Section G. Grave 31. Born on the 14th August 1918 at Wellington, the son of Charles Stoughton Eaton and Cora Eaton (née Shorten), of Hataitai, Wellington, New Zealand. Prior to joining the FAA on the 02nd May 1941 worked as an accounts clerk for Winstone Ltd of Wellington. Awarded his pilots badge on the 20th January 1942.
Sub-Lt. James Major Dunn. Lee-On-Solent Memorial. Bay 4 Panel 6. Son of James Major Dunn and Mary McCracken Dunn.
P/O. Frank Harry Rowe. Birmingham Cemetery (Lodge Hill). Plot 21B. Grave 17961. Son of Francis and Florance Rowe, of Birmingham and husband of Peggy Joan Rowe, of Edgbaston, Birmingham, England. Grave inscription: 'Life's Race Well Run Life's Work Well Done'.
Researched and dedicated to the relatives of this crew 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, Weekly News of New Zealand, other sources as quoted below:
