Operation: Training

Date: 02nd September 1942 (Wednesday)

Unit: Torpedo Training Unit

Type: Beaufort I

Serial: N1180

Code: S

Base: RAF Abbotsinch, Renfrewshire, Scotland

Location: Mull of Kintyre

Pilot: Sgt. Albert Augustine Haydon NZ/414287 RNZAF Age 26. Killed

Obs: Sgt. Francis John Bliss Griffin 1330126 RAFVR Age 33. Killed

W/Op/Air/Gnr: Fl/Sgt. Tom Henry Grasswick R/60581 RCAF Age 21. Killed

Air/Gnr: P/O. Leonard Percy Booker NZ/391207 RNZAF Age 29. Killed

REASON FOR LOSS:

Taking off from RAF Turnberry for this exercise. During a night navigational training flight N1180 veered slightly off course after a strong westerly wind increased during unexpected adverse weather.

At 22:40 hrs they flew into Tor Mhor, a hill 2 km east of the Mull of Kintyre lighthouse, all the crew were killed.

Burial and other details:

Sgt. Albert Augustine Haydon. Brookwood Military Cemetery. Grave 2.H.1. Born on the 01st November 1915 in Wellington. Son of Edward Francis (died 26th June 1964, age 83) and Cecilia Julia Haydon (died 22nd February 1921, age 39), of Palmerston North, Wellington, New Zealand.

Sgt. Francis John Bliss Griffin. Pinner Cemetery. Section F.5. Grave 125. Son of Francis George (died 28th February 1959) and Mary Griffin. Husband of Doris Woodruff Griffin (née Young - died 01st April 2009, age 97), father of Edward Francis of Pinner, Middlesex, England. Epitaph: 'He Will Live In Our Hearts For Ever'.

Fl/Sgt. Tom Henry Grasswick. Campbeltown Cemetery (Kilkerran). Division 4. Grave 601. Born on the 23rd March 1921 in Calgary. Son of Tom Henry (died 14th August 1980, age 92) and Stella Vernetta Grasswick (née Marsh - died 1988, age 89 - married in 1920), of Calgary, Alberta, Canada. Epitaph: 'He Will Live In Our Hearts For Ever'.

P/O. Leonard Percy Booker. Campbeltown Cemetery (Kilkerran). Division 4. Grave 600. Born on the 25th April 1913 in Christchurch. Son of John Isaac (died 19th September 1944, aged 58) and Mary Booker (died 22nd July 1956, age 69) of New Plymouth, Taranaki, New Zealand.

Researched and dedicated to the relatives of this pilot with thanks to the extensive research by Errol Martyn and his publications: “For Your Tomorrow Vols. 1-3”, New Zealand Cenotaph, Weekly News of New Zealand, Air Museum of New Zealand, Museum of Transport and Technology, Auckland, 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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