Operation: Training
Date: 18th August 1942 (Friday)
Unit: No. 56 Squadron (motto: Quid si coelum ruat - 'What if heaven falls?'). 12 Group
Type: Typhoon IA
Serial: R7644
Code: US-B
Base: RAF Snailwell, Cambridgeshire
Location: Moulton, Lincolnshire
Pilot: Sgt. James Struthers Jones NZ/413424 RNZAF Age 23. Killed
REASON FOR LOSS:
During formation training the rear fuselage section failed and detached during a dive at 12:45 hrs.
This had been the third incident in a relatively short time, it would go on to plague the Typhoon during its service.
Burial and personal details:
Sgt. James Struthers Jones. Sutton Bridge Churchyard (St. Matthew). Sec. P. Grave 45. Born on the 29th January 1919 at Wellington. Worked as a clerk for A B Wright and Sons prior to service. Joined the RNZAF at Levin on the 06th November 1940 as a trainee pilot. Trained with No. 4 Elementary Flying School and No. 3 Flying Training School before being awarded his pilots badge on the 18th October 1941, promoted to sergeant on the 29th November 1941.Son of Thomas and Winifred Jones of Auckland City, New Zealand; husband of Mollie Jones of Sandringham, Auckland City. A total of 305 flying hours logged - 215 solo with 43 hours on the Typhoon.
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, other sources as quoted below:
