Archive Report: Allied Forces

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15.08.1942 No.41 Squadron Spitfire P8607 EB-C Sgt. Goodall

Operation: Transit flight

Date: 15th August 1942 (Saturday)

Unit: No. 41 Squadron 9 Group motto: 'Seek and Destroy')

Type: Spitfire Vb (Palembung Oeloe II)

Serial: P8607

Code: EB-C

Base: RAF Llanbedr, Merionethshire, Wales

Location: Blounce Farm near Weston Patrick

Pilot: Sgt. Bernard Bryn Goodall NZ/411981 RNZAF Age 23. Killed

REASON FOR LOSS:

On the 15th August 1942, Bernard was the pilot detailed to deliver a Spitfire Mk Vb, from RAF Station Debden, Essex to RAF Station Tangmere in Sussex to where Squadron 41 was being repositioned in readiness for the Dieppe landings in a few days time.

At 17.45hrs. presumably due to instrument failure Bernard found himself travelling in the wrong direction, a little to the north west of where he wanted to go. There was no radar in the spitfires then. The southern half of England was covered in low cloud to 1000 ft and it is assumed he was coming down through the cloud to see his position but became disorientated and dived into the ground.

The plane crashed into farmland, near the town of Weston Patrick, Basingstoke, Hampshire, partly burying itself and catching fire immediately.

Above: 58 Operational Training Unit, Grangemouth, Scotland. Course No. 17. Squad 2.

Rear: Sgt. Schou, Sgt. Trafford, Sgt. McCaffery, Sgt. Stead, Sgt. Jackson, Sgt. Shorthouse, Sgt. Taylor, Sgt. Bernard Bryn Goodall, Sgt. Weyers.

Front: Sgt. Turnbull, Sgt. Owren, P/O. Bogdan Mijakowski P-1608 / 783480, P/O. Sager, F/O. Rowe, F/O. Józef Antoni Regulski P-0528, P/O. Mieczyslaw Antoni Widziszewski P-1695, Sgt. Grout-Spang.

Notes on photo: P/O. Bogdan Mijakowski killed on the 26th November 1942. F/O. Józef Antoni Regulski survived the war and passed away sometime in 1990. P/O. Mieczyslaw Antoni Widziszewski killed on the 29th December 1942. P/O. Wojcich Marian Jerzy Weyers killed on the 02nd February 1943.

Burial details:

Sgt. Bernard Bryn Goodall. Brookwood Military Cemetery. Grave 2.1.1. Born on the 01st April 1919 in Nelson, the son and third child of Kenneth Bryn Goodall and of Caroline Grace Goodall (née Macmahon), of Whakatane, Auckland, New Zealand. The Goodall family, like many New Zealanders, are descended from migrants from the UK. Bernard's grandfather immigrated from Staffordshire, in the 1860s, hence the use of the Welsh name Bryn. A total of 312 flying hours logged and having completed 41 operational sorties. (mainly offensive patrols, but also including 12 convoy patrols, 2 sector reconnaissance flights, 2 low level attacks on enemy positions in France, shipping reconnaissance and an air sea rescue search)

Further information:

Bernard attended Brightwater School, 1925 - 1930; Lichfield Primary School, 1930 - 1932 and Putaruru District High School, 1932 - 1933. His employment history was dairy farm worker 1934 - 1938; timber worker 1938 - 1939; dryerman and backtender, Whakatane Paper Mills 1939 -1941 .

Applied to the Royal New Zealand Air Force on 27 January 1940, and to the Air Force Reserve in July 1940, being was called up for aircrew training on 23/3/1941 at Levin and Harewood where he commenced his flying training.

On the 22nd of July 1941, he embarked for Canada for training under the Empire Air Training Scheme and was posted to Dunnville, Ontario, where on the 07th November 1941, awarded his flying wings and promoted to Sergeant. Eventually he went to 58 Operational Training Unit, Grangemouth, Scotland, where he completed his conversion training on Spitfires.

On the 21st April 1942, he was posted to the distinguished 41 Squadron of the Royal Airforce at Merston, Sussex, to replace Battle of Britain pilots who were being rested.

Bernard flew with the 41 Squadron in Flight A (about 6 aircraft), red section, comprised of 3-4 planes, flying the Spitfire model Mk Vb.

On July 20, 21, 30th July, 1942, Bernard flew missions over France, recorded in his logbook:

July 20th , with Rhubarb squadron, Red IV,

“Near Le Harve. Octerville Airdrome huts and lorries. Bags of flak. At Drome and at Coast.

Crossed French coast at Cape d’A(n)tifer. Rex and self shot up railway engine. Redge Allan (1) missing.”

Right: Sgt. Reginald Connell Allan

July 21st “65, with Rhubarb squadron, Red IV, "attacked Blankenberge (in Belgium) getting badly shot up. 41,71 Escort cover off coast. Jock Wilson hit by flak but OK. A shakey do".

July 30th , offensive sweep Red IV. “Fighter sweep St O(m)er (France). Zero feet until coast. Climbed to 19 000 Fw1905 (German aircraft) about but not near us”

(1) 23 year old, Sgt. Reginald Connell Allan AUS/401755 RAAF - flying Spitfire Vb AD356 EB-I.

Researched and dedicated to the relatives of this pilot with thanks to Beverley Bell and the the family of Sgt. Goodall and Steve Brew, historian for 41 Squadron for images and detailed information. Also 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:

A word from the Editor: your contribution is important. We welcome your comments and information. Thanks in advance.

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