Operation: Training

Date: 08th February 1945 (Thursday)

Unit: No. 1 (Observers) Advanced Flying Unit

Type: Anson I

Serial: W2637

Code: -

Base: RAF Wigtown, Scotland

Location: Irish Sea

Pilot: P/O. Arthur Percy Hoare NZ/427282 RNZAF Age 27. Missing - believed killed

Obs: Fl/Sgt. Kenneth Jerrard Molloy 916689 RAFVR Age? Missing - believed killed

Obs: Sgt. George Banks 1686034 RAFVR Age? Missing - believed killed

Obs: Sgt. Robert Cecil Harris 1606451 RAFVR Age 20. Missing - believed killed

Obs: Sgt. Donald Arthur Jordan 1815777 RAFVR Age? Missing - believed killed

REASON FOR LOSS:

Taking off at 02:00 hrs on a night navigation exercise. Returned to RAF Wigtown 35 minutes later with a unserviceable navigation light. Left at 03:45 hrs and was last heard of at 05:19hrs over the Irish Sea 42 miles south of Ballyquintin Point in Count Down, Ireland.

No trace of the aircraft was found and the crew are commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial in Surrey.

Burial details:

P/O. Arthur Percy Hoare. Runnymede Memorial. Panel 285. Born on the 05th October 1917 in Te Awamutu. Worked as a self-employed apiarist Served in territorial army for 5 weeks. Enlisted at Gisborne on the 11th of July 1942. With No. 3 Elementary Flying Training School as a pilot under training on the 03rd April 1942. With No. 1 Service Flying Training School on the 29th May 1943. The pilot badge was awarded on the 14th of August 1943 and promoted to sergeant on the 25th of September 1943. Embarked for England on the 12th of October 1943. With 12 Personnel Reception Centre on the 10th November 1943. Served in various training units. Joined 1 (Observers) Advanced Flying Unit as a staff pilot on the 28th of September 1944. Commissioned on the 07th February 1945. A total of 471 hours logged with 168 solo on the Anson. Son of Albert Arthur and Violet Mary Hoare (née Hancock) of Martinborough and husband of Peggie Edna Hoare (née Rouse) of Herne Bay, New Zealand.

Fl/Sgt. Kenneth Jerrard Molloy. Runnymede Memorial. Panel 272. No further details, are you able to assist?

Sgt. George Banks. Runnymede Memorial. Panel 273. Son of George Banks, and of May Banks, of Northenden, Lancashire, England.

Sgt. Robert Cecil Harris. Runnymede Memorial. Panel 275. Son of Thomas Colwell Harris and Emily Harris, of Colebrooke, Plympton, Devon, England.

Sgt. Donald Arthur Jordan. Runnymede Memorial. Panel 275. Son of Arthur and Rose Jordan, of Evesham, Worcestershire; husband of Hazel Jordan, of Harvington, Evesham, England.

Above L-R: Rear; EL Jones, William John Francis Keefe NZ/4210922, JM Kinnimont, Peter Patrick Bursill Kennedy NZ/429332, Jack Muir Knight NZ/4210031, John Strathearn Lawrey NZ/4211799.
Front; LR Hall, Colin Wylmer Harrison NZ/4211715, Arthur Percy Hoare NZ/427282, P.L Hookway, P.H Hunter, S.J Hutchison. (Courtesy Air Museum of New Zealand)

Above; L-R: Rear; A.D Cambridge, J.A Robertson, G.D Neave, E.S Ellis, P.F O'Meara, L.W Smith, G.H Esquilant, J.R Hall, A.R Benton, G.M Findlay, J.S McLernon.
3rd row; R.J Urlich, D.R Ritchie, A.L McLean, B. McPherson, P.M Hunter, B.L Anderson, E.A Moore, A.N Ching, R.M Wallace, W.J Keef, B.L Butler, J.B Redpath.
2nd row; F.L Hookway, L.D Irwin, R.J Clark, S.M Robertson, W.R Brinsley, M.G Adams, D.R Watters, L.D Brooker, R.S Martin, E.P Scott, B.R Bloomfield, T.S.A Tarrant, C.W Harrison.
Front; D.A Tister, A.P Hoare, J.M Butland, M.J Schroeder, R.L Allen, W. Rangiuaia, R.E Dodd, V. Bartlett, C.L Blows, L.K Adams, L.V Williams, L.I.J Dogle. (Courtesy Air Museum of 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”, Auckland Library Heritage Collection, Weekly News of New Zealand, Air Museum of New Zealand, Museum of Transport and Technology, Auckland, other sources as quoted below:

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