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Archive Report: Allied Forces

Compiled from official National Archive and Service sources, contemporary press reports, personal logbooks, diaries and correspondence, reference books, other sources, and interviews.
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Operation: Air experience

Date: 28th March 1943 (Sunday)

Unit: No. 21 Elementary Training School. 50 Group

Type: Tiger Moth II

Serial: DE844

Code: -

Base: RAF Booker, Buckinghamshire

Location: Chosley Grange, Buckinghamshire

Pilot: F/O. Edmund Bruce Harvey NZ/413069 RNZAF Age 25. Killed

Crew: Cadet Peter Henry Gatfield 708 Squadron ATC Age 15. Killed

REASON FOR LOSS:

Taking off at around 11:00 hrs to take the 15 year old for air experience. Whilst carrying out aerobatics crashed 15 minutes later at Chosley Grange in Buckinghamshire. Both crew members lost their lives.

Burial details:

F/O. Edmund Bruce Harvey. Marlow Cemetery. Section F, Row C, Grave 95. Born on the 10th July 1917 at Christchurch. Worked as a clerk for Post and telecommunications prior to service. Enlisted the 04th May 1941 at Levin after 6 months in the NZ army. Awarded his pilots badge on the 08th November and received his commission. Son of Ernest Edmund Harvey and of Margarita Pearl Harvey (nee Barter) of Spreydon, Christchurch, New Zealand. 717 flying hours logged with 517 of these solo on type.

Cadet Peter Henry Gatfield. High Wycombe Cemetery. Sec. H.1. Grave 620. Son of Albert Edward and Winifred Gatfield (nee Hitchman), of High Wycombe. Grave inscription: 'Memories Are Sweet Of One So Dear Of Joys We Shared When He Was Here'.

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 13-03-2021

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Acknowledgements
Sources used by us in compiling Archive Reports include: Bill Chorley - 'Bomber Command Losses Vols. 1-9, plus ongoing revisions', Dr. Theo E.W. Boiten and Mr. Roderick J. Mackenzie - 'Nightfighter War Diaries Vols. 1 and 2', Martin Middlebrook and Chris Everitt - 'Bomber Command War Diaries', Commonwealth War Graves Commission, Tom Kracker - Kracker Luftwaffe Archives, Michel Beckers, Major Fred Paradie (RCAF) and Captain François Dutil (RCAF) - Paradie Archive (on this site), Jean Schadskaje, Major Jack O'Connor USAF (Retd.), Robert Gretzyngier, Wojtek Matusiak, Waldemar Wójcik and Józef Zieliński - 'Ku Czci Połeglyçh Lotnikow 1939-1945', Andrew Mielnik: Archiwum - Polish Air Force Archive (on this site), Anna Krzystek, Tadeusz Krzystek - 'Polskie Siły Powietrzne w Wielkiej Brytanii', Franek Grabowski, Polish graves: https://niebieskaeskadra.pl/, PoW Museum Żagań, Norman L.R. Franks 'Fighter Command Losses', Stan D. Bishop, John A. Hey MBE, Gerrie Franken and Maco Cillessen - Losses of the US 8th and 9th Air Forces, Vols 1-6, Dr. Theo E.W. Boiton - Nachtjagd Combat Archives, Vols 1-13. Aircrew Remembered Databases and our own archives. We are grateful for the support and encouragement of CWGC, UK Imperial War Museum, Australian War Memorial, Australian National Archives, New Zealand National Archives, UK National Archives and Fold3 and countless dedicated friends and researchers across the world.
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