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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3 LFS (Lancaster Finishing School) Lancaster I R5846 A5-H Fl/Sgt. Thomas G. Jacobs

Operation: Training

Date: 18th December 1944

Unit: No. 3 LFS (Lancaster Finishing School)

Type: Lancaster I

Serial: R5846

Code: A5-H

Base: Feltwell, Thetford, Norfolk

Location: Hockwood cum Wilton, Thetford, Norfolk

Pilot: Fl/Sgt. Thomas George Jacobs 428122 RNZAF Age 22. Killed

Fl/Eng: Sgt. Leslie Arthur Raymond Potter 3006136 RAFVR Age 19. Killed

Nav: Fl/Sgt. George Ridley Telford Taylor 1521681 RAFVR Age 36. Killed

Air/Bmr: Sgt. James Duffin 1568139 RAFVR Age ? Killed

W/Op/Air/Gnr: Sgt. John Watson Hutton 1822192 RAFVR Age 20. Killed

Air/Gnr: Sgt. Frank Albert Oxlade 3031334 RAFVR Age 19. Killed

Air/Gnr: Sgt. Cyril Symonds 2235152 RAFVR Age 19. Killed

REASON FOR LOSS:

Took off at 18:56 hrs. from Feltwell near Thetford Norfolk on a general night flying training exercise - this was the final parts of 63 training course and this nights training included air to air firing, circuits and landings at Waterbeach, Methwold and Tempsford.

On the return to Feltwell several aircraft were on a circuit preparing to land when, at 21:51 hrs. two aircraft collided, crashing, killing all the crews of R5846 and R5674. (see archive report on R5674)

In 1984 the AAPS (1) found four Merlin engines, machine guns and other equipment. Most of which are now on display at the Norfolk and Suffolk Museum in Flixton, Suffolk.

(1) Anglian Aeronautical Preservation Society

The aircraft came down in the village of Hockwold cum Wilton between South Street and the river opposite Winton Cottage.
In 1984 the Anglian Aeronautical Preservation Society found four Merlin engines, machine guns and other equipment. Most of which are now on display at the Norfolk and Suffolk Museum in Flixton, Suffolk.

Burial details:

Fl/Sgt. Thomas George Jacobs. Cambridge City Cemetery Grave 15356. Son of Thomas George and Margaret Agnes Jacobs, of Timaru, Canterbury, New Zealand.

Sgt. Leslie Arthur Raymond Potter. Cambridge City Cemetery Grave 15357. Son of John D. Potter and Violet Potter, of South Norwood, Surrey, England.

Fl/Sgt. George Ridley Telford Taylor Merrington (St. John) Churchyard Grave 384. Son of William and Mary Taylor; husband of Harriett Jane Welburn Taylor of Spennymoor (1912-1973), County Durham, England.

Sgt. James Duffin. Bannockburn Cemetery. Compt. C37. Grave 23. Son of James and Mary Breslin Duffin, nephew of Elizabeth Kelly, of Bannockburn, Scotland.

Sgt. John Watson Hutton Harvieston Cemetery Sec E. Grave 19. Son of William John and Janet Howden Hutton, of Gorebridge, Midlothian, Scotland.

Sgt. Frank Albert Oxlade Hambleden (St. Mary) New Churchyard. Son of Fred and Edith Ada Oxlade, of Hambleden, Buckinghamshire, England.

Sgt. Cyril Symonds Highmore (St. Paul) Churchyard. Son of Thomas and I.L.M. Wells, of Highmoor, Oxfordshire, England.

Acknowledgments: With thanks to the following: Ian McLachlan "Final Flights", Bill Chorley - "Bomber Command Losses", the work of the CWGC

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