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Operation: Patrol
Date: 19/20th January 1943 (Tuesday/Wednesday)
Unit: No. 141 Squadron (motto: Caedimus Noctu - 'We slay by night') 11 Group
Type: Beaufighter IF
Serial: V8266
Code: TW-?
Base: RAF Ford, Sussex
Location: English Channel
Pilot: Fl/Sgt. Lionel Kesson Guthrie NZ/404637 RNZAF Age 26. Missing - believed killed
Nav: Fl/Sgt. John Wellesley Wellington 1314415 RAFVR Age 21. Killed
REASON FOR LOSS:
Taking off at 23;25 hrs on a practice ground controlled interception and patrol.
When about 30 miles from base at 5,000 ftsuffered a starboard engine failure. It seemed that the windmilling propeller could not be feathered which led to a loss of height.
At 00:15 hrs the Beaufighter crashed into the sea 5 miles from Shoreham-on-Sea, only the body of the navigator was recovered.
Burial details:
Fl/Sgt. Lionel Kesson Guthrie. Runnymede Memorial. Panel 199. Born on the 15th April 1916 at Wanganui. A farm hand on his fathers farm at Ohakune prior to service. Served 4 years in the territorial army. Enlisted in the RNZAF at Levin on the on the 20th November 1940 as an air gunner but remastered as a pilot u/t on the 21st December 1940. Trained in Canada and awarded his pilots badge and promoted to sergeant on the 08th August 1941. Joined 141 squadron on the 08th January 1942 after conversion trains with 54 Operational Training Unit. Son of Kesson Campbell Guthrie and Clarice Ruby Guthrie (nee Hamilton), of Ohakune, Wellington, New Zealand. 545 flying hours logged - 162 on the Beaufighter. 44 operational sorties completed.
Fl/Sgt. John Wellesley Wellington. Shaw Cemetery, Newbury. Grave 809. Son of George Wellesley Wellington and Florence Emily Wellington, of Newbury, England.
Researched and dedicated to the relatives of this pilot 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, AWMM, Weekly News of New Zealand, other sources as quoted below:
KTY 23-03-2021
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them. - Laurence
Binyon
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Last Modified: 23 March 2021, 16:30