Operation: Anti-Submarine Patrol

Date: 28th November 1944

Unit: 230 Squadron (Coastal Command)

Type: Sunderland III

Serial No: JM763

Coded: 'P' ("Black Peter")

Base: RAF Koggala, Sri Lanka

Location: Laccadive Sea off Ceylon (Sri Lanka)

Pilot: Flt.Lt. (Acting Sqn.Ldr) Kenneth Victor Ingham DFC. MiD. 406456 RAAF Age 26. Killed

Pilot (2): Flt.Lt. Alfred Basil Gilbert 120787 RAFVR Age ? Killed.

Flt.Eng: Plt.Off. Reginald Frederik Walliker 56210 RAF Age 28. Killed

Nav/Air Bmr: Flt.Lt. John Wallace Bennett 127271 RAFVR Age 33. Killed

WOp: Flt.Sgt. Edgar Reginald John Williams 1312874 RAFVR Age ? Killed

WOp: Fly.Sgt. Alfred James 'Jimmy' Bonner 1312925 RAFVR Age 27. Killed

W.O.M: Sgt. Dennis Walter Underwood 1691951 RAFVR Age 21. Killed

F/M.E: WO. David Nicholson Crawford 1853185 RAFVR Age ? Killed

Air Gnr: Fg.Off. Sydney Leslie Cary 412393 RAAF Age 35. Killed

Air Gnr: WO. Reginald Frederick Juffs 1431231 RAFVR Age 23. Killed

Reason For Loss:

Sunderland JM673 'P' was detailed to carry out an Anti-Submarine patrol off the East coast of Ceylon (Sri Lanka) on the 28th November 1944. The aircraft took off at 06:45 local time and was expected back at 20:00 hours local time the same day.

The aircraft did not return to base that evening, neither was a wireless signal received from it from the time it took off. Extensive Air Sea Rescue searches were carried out during the 19th and and 30th of November, together with one Destroyer. In addition all shipping in the area was warned to keep a look for survivors or wreckage.

Left RAF Koggala. Right: Flt.Lt. John Wallace Bennett (courtesy Vincent Gillen - see credits)

The Giant Plane That Wrecked U-boats (Courtesy DarkSkies via YouTube)

Written report on loss of Aircraft Sunderland MkIII JM673 "P', 230 Squadron:

1: This casualty has been reported in No.230 Squadron signal A.29 dated 29th November 1944.

2: In accordance with orders received from H.Q. 222 Group their form green GS/E2 dated 27th November 1944 refers, aircraft P/230 No. JM763 took off from Koggala at 06:45 hours FG on 28th November to carry out an anti-submarine patrol off the East coast of Ceylon.The aircraft was due to return to Koggala at 20:00 hours FG.28th November.

3: Following upon consultations between RAF station Koggala and HQ 222 Group Operations Control it was decided to recall the aircraft due to weather conditions in the area making the patrol impracticable. Accordingly, at 12:45 hours FG on 28th November 1944 the aircraft was called by wireless transmission and from then, continuously, until 22:57 hours FG, but without result, no answer being received from the aircraft.

4: Filters were available to give any definite plots of the aircraft due to the presence in the area of an aircraft carrier which flew off aircraft during the day. The aircraft carried 2000 gallons of fuel, sufficient for 15.5 hours flying to dry tanks.

5: At briefing, the Meteorological Officer pointed out the presence of a cyclonic depression east of the aircrafts patrol area and warned to abandon the patrol and return to base if the weather deteriorated. The fact that when the aircraft was called at 12:41 hours FG for the purpose of recalling it, it did not answer, would tend to indicate that the incident causing the loss of the aircraft had already occurred before that time, since it would be a most unusual occurrence for both wireless receivers and the transmitter to be unserviceable at the same time.

6: No signals were received from the aircraft from the time it took off; any statement as to the possible cause of the loss would therefore, be pure conjecture and would serve no useful purpose. Searches were carried out for the aircraft on succeeding days, but no trace has been found.

7: The Captain and the Navigator of the aircraft were both very experienced on Sunderland aircraft P/230.

Burial Details

Flt.Lt. Kenneth Victor Ingham. The Singapore Memorial. Column 443. Son of Frederick Ingham, and of Henrietta Ingham, of Carlisle, Western Australia. Born on 6 March 1918 at Albany, Western Australia.

Employed as a clerk for Western Australian Railways. Enlisted into the Royal Australian Air Force at No 4 Recruiting Centre at Perth on the 9 December 1940. On enlistment, he gave his father Frederick Ingham as his next of kin and his religion as Church of England. Embarked from Australia to Egypt on the 9 September 1941.

Awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, the citation is as follows:

"Served with his present unit for three years and has taken part in operational missions in the Middle East, Africa and South East Asia. Although considerable maintenance difficulties have been experienced, this officer has never failed to set a fine example to aircrew and ground personnel alike by his enthusiasm and interest in his allotted tasks".

He was also mentioned in Dispatches and In addition, gained the following service medals: 1939-1945 Star, Africa Star, Burma Star, Italy Star, War Medal 1939-1945, Australia Service Medal 1939-1945

Flt.Lt. Alfred Basil Gilbert. The Singapore Memorial. Column 431. The only information that we have is that his home was in Upminster, Essex, England.

Plt.Off. Reginald Frederick Walliker.The Singapore Memorial.Column 433. Son of Mrs. J. E. Walliker, and stepson of F. McMahon; husband of Dorothy Lily Walliker, of Ryde, Isle of Wight. Reginald Frederik Walliker is remembered on the Ryde, Isle of Wight War Memorial, also on Old, Alresford, War Memorial, Hampshire, England.

Flt.Lt. John Wallace Bennett. The Singapore Memorial. Column 431. Son of John Duncan Bennett and Margaret Lane Bennett, of Greenock, Renfrewshire, Scotland.

Wallace Bennett came from a family of Gentlemen's Outfitters in the Scottish town of Greenock. He was deeply involved in Amateur Dramatics and a local theatre has a room named after him.

Flt.Sgt. Edgar Reginald John Williams. The Singapore Memorial. Column 435. The only information that we have is that his home was in Staple Hill, Bristol, England.

Flt.Sgt. Alfred James 'Jimmy' Bonner. The Singapore Memorial. Column 434. Born on the 23rd March 1917 in Alton, Hampshire. Son of William Alfred and Emily Mabel (née Denyer) Bonner (His father predeceased him in 1934). Husband to Constance Rose (née Whitehead) Bonner whom he married in July 1943 and who was serving in the WRAF. Constance remarried Ronald James Wilson (also in the RAF) in Oct 1950 with whom she had two daughters.

Sgt. Dennis Walter Underwood. The Singapore Memorial. Column 436. Son of Thomas Walter Underwood,and of Rose Janet Underwood,of West Norwood, London, England.

Flt.Sgt. David Nicholson Crawford. The Singapore Memorial. Column 433. No further details - Are you able to assist?

Fg.Off. Sydney Leslie Cary. The Singapore Memorial. Column 443. Born on the 31st October 1909 at Leichardt, New South Wales, Australia. Son of Edwin Alfred and Amy Merretta Cary, husband of Marjorie Lorraine Cary, of Bellevue Hill, New South Wales, Australia.

He enlisted into the Royal Australian Air Force on 19th July 1941 at No 2 Recruitment Centre, Sydney. He gave his wife Marjorie Lorraine Cary as his next of kin, and religion as Church of England.

Flt.Sgt. Reginald Frederick Juffs. The Singapore Memorial. Column 433. Son of Thomas Reginald Hales Juffs,and of Mabel Annie Juffs,of Old, Northamptonshire.

Acknowledgements: With thanks to Bob Wilton, Vincent Gillen - Ass. Curator, McLean Museum and Art Gallery, Greenock, Scotland, 230 Squadron Historical Association, Australian National Archives. Map added by Aircrew Remembered (Jul 2015). Thanks to Rob Jarman for the basic Next of Kin details for Flt.Sgt. Bonner with the remainder of Next of Kin details by Aircrew Remembered (Nov 2020). Other sources as quoted below.

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