Operation: Training

Date: 11th February 1942 (Wednesday)

Unit: No. 6 Flying Instructor School. 50 Group

Type: Tiger Moth II

Serial: T7850

Code: -

Base: RAF Staverton, Gloucestershire

Location: Over Cheltenham, Gloucestershire

Pilot: P/O. Stanley Charles Jones NZ/413085 RNZAF Age 24. Killed

Pilot: (Inst) F/O. Godfrey George William Pledger 88652 RAFVR Age 27. Killed

REASON FOR LOSS:

Taking part in a duel instruction training exercise.

At 16:17 hrs. they collided with a Miles Master I N7766 from 9 Service Flying Training School, flown by 19 year old, F/O. Buckland.

All four crew members were killed in the mid air collision.

Burial and personal details:

Tiger Moth II T7850 crew:

P/O. Stanley Charles Jones. (shown left) Gloucester Old Cemetery. Plot B. Grave 9443. Born on the 16th January 1918 in England. Moved to New Zealand mid 1921. Worked as an electrical fitter for Hutt Valley Electric Power Board prior to service. Enlisted at Levin on the 25th May 1941. Trained at No. 3 Elementary Flying Training School joining on the 06th July 1941 and then to No. 2 Flying Training School joining on the 07th August 1941. Pilots badge awarded on the 29th September 1941 and received his commission on the 08th November 1941. Embarked for England on the 17th November 1941. Joined No. 6 Flying Instructor School on the 13th January 1942. Son of Sgt. Ronald Seaforth Jones (kia 24th August 1918) Ethel Jones (nee Gray) and stepson of Ronald James Coakley, of Lower Hutt, Wellington, New Zealand

F/O. Godfrey George William Pledger. Barkway Churchyard (St. Mary Magdalene). Son of Victor (died 01st September 1962, age 82) and Nellie Pledger (died 15th March 1962), of Barkway and husband of Dorothy Hilda Pledger, of Barkway, Hertfordshire, England. Grave inscription: 'Always Remembered. Dorothy'

Miles Master I N7766 crew:

F/O. Frederick William Buckland. Dersingham Churchyard. (St. Nicholas). 67054 RAFVR. Grave F6/1. 67054 RAFVR. Son of John William and Violet (died 11th September 1965, age 76) Buckland. Grave inscription: 'Darling son you now have space to spread your wings'.

Sgt. Anthony Joseph Maher. (shown left) Gloucester Old Cemetery. Plot B. Grave 9764. R//55815 RCAF. Born 13th September 1917 at Shannon, Quebec, age 24. Worked as a switchboard operator for the Quebec Power Company prior to service. Had served in the 2nd Battalion Royal Rifles of Canada for 6months. Son of Arnold J. Maher and Louisa Maher, of Valcartier Station, Co. Portnuef, Province of Quebec, Canada. Grave inscription: 'Gods Finger Touched Him And He Slept'.

Researched and dedicated to the relatives of this pilot with thanks to Neil Adams and Pauline Martin of St. Nicholas Church, Dersingham for the details on Sgt. Buckland, 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:

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