Operation: Transit flight

Date: 07th November 1946 (Thursday)

Unit: No. 2 Group Communication Flight

Type: Avro Anson C.XIX

Serial: TX175

Code: Not known

Base: B.58 Melsbroek, Belgium

Location: Pelkum, Germany

Pilot: Fl/Lt. Maxwell Roy Harwood NZ/415258 RNZAF Age 25. Killed

Nav: F/O. Jack Albert Butler 167805 RAFVR Age 22. Killed

Px: Cpl. Allan MacDonald 616420 RAF Age 25. Killed (1)

Px: F/O. Arthur Stanley Pinnion 144914 RAFVR Age 29. Killed

Px: F/O. Charles King Allan 203421 RAFVR Age 23. Killed

Px: Fl/Sgt. George William Harry Barkham MiD. 563521 RAF Age 34. Killed

Px: W/Cdr. Noel Joseph Mowat DSO. MiD. NZ/2404 RNZAF Age 32. Killed

REASON FOR LOSS:

Taking off at 10:12 hrs from Güttersloh in Germany taking the passengers to Bovington, Hertfordshire via Dortmund in Germany.

After only 20 minutes into the flight and with 200 metre visibility struck a 128 metre chimney at the De Wendel Colliery in Pelkum. The Anson hit the brick chimney at about 80 metres and then swung the aircraft to starboard hitting a second chimney when the aircraft then disintegrated in an explosion.

At this time the chimneys were neither on maps or even illuminated - so with that said, the chimneys were in use so, as well as the actual poor visibility they were covered in steam!

(1) The wife of Cpl. Allan MacDonald, Leading Wren 25 year old, Catherine Mary Macdonald 53088 of the Women's Royal Naval Service was also killed during service on the 02nd July 1946. Based at HMS. Dundonald, Troon, Ayrshire, Scotland. We have been unable to establish cause of death and welcome any further information.

Burial details:

Fl/Lt. Maxwell Roy Harwood. Munster Heath War Cemetery. Grave 4.D.20. Born on the 26th June at Turua, the son of Ernest Charles and Maud Harriet Harwood (nee Organ), of Otahuhu, Auckland, New Zealand. Prior to service worked as a farmer with his father at Kopuarahi. A total of 2044 hrs with 1083 solo on this type. Had carried out 12 operational sorties whilst serving with 487 (RNZAF) Squadron.

F/O. Jack Albert Butler. Munster Heath War Cemetery. Grave 4.D.18. Son of Henry George and Harriett Butler; husband of Joyce Adeline Butler, of East Croydon, Surrey, England. Grave inscription: 'Could I Choose A Gift From Memory's Garden Then I Would Pray That You'll Come Back To Me'.

Cpl. Allan MacDonald. Munster Heath War Cemetery. Grave 4.D.16. Son of Angus and Annie MacDonald, of Crookston, Glasgow, Scotland. Husband of Ldg. Wren Catherine Mary MacDonald. His wife also died on service. Grave inscription: 'Thy Will Be Done" Requiescat In Pace'.

F/O. Arthur Stanley Pinnion. Munster Heath War Cemetery. Grave 4.D.19. Son of Bertram Charles and Florence Ellen Pinnion, of Worcester Park, Surrey, England.

F/O. Charles King Allan. Munster Heath War Cemetery. Grave 4.D.17. Son of John Campbell Hill Allan and Margaret Anderson Ritchie Allan, of Paisley, Renfrewshire, Scotland. (Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery)

Fl/Sgt. George William Harry Barkham MiD. Munster Heath War Cemetery. Grave 4.D.21. Son of William Henry and Mary Louisa Barkham and husband of Leah Barkham, of Cliftonville, Margate, England. Grave inscription: 'Deep In Our Hearts Is A Memory Of One We Loved And Will Never Forget. Colin & Mummy'.

W/Cdr. Noel Joseph Mowat DSO. MiD. Munster Heath War Cemetery. Grave 4.D.15. Born on the 18th September 1914 at Clydesvale, the son of Alexander Neil Mowat and Ellen Teresa Mowat (née Taylor), of Roxburgh, Otago, New Zealand. A total of 1544 hrs. Had carried out 208 operational sorties. Served with 245 and 607 Squadron. Serving with 4 Squadron on the date of his loss as Commanding Officer. Note: some publications state his rank incorrectly as Squadron Leader.

Other:

Leading Wren Catherine Mary Macdonald. Barrhead (St. Conval's) Roman Catholic Cemetery. Sec. 1. Grave 1360. Daughter of John and Catherine Murphy, of Glasgow, Scotland. Grave inscription: 'Her Husband Allan Cpl. R.A.F. Age 25 Crashed 7.11.1946 Buried In Munster, Germany'.

Researched and dedicated to the relatives of this crew with thanks to the 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:

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