AR banner
Search Tips Advanced Search
Back to Top

• Kracker Archive
• Allied Losses
• Archiwum Polish
• Paradie Canadian
• RCAF
• RAAF
• RNZAF
• USA
• Searchable Lists

Info LogoAdd to or correct this story with a few clicks.
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.
Check our Research databases: Database List

.

We seek additional information and photographs. Please contact us via the Helpdesk.

37
19/20th June 1942 37 Squadron Wellington IC DV669 F/O. Kauter

Operation: Benghazi, Libya

Date: 19/20th June 1942 (Friday/Saturday)

Unit: No. 37 Squadron (motto: 'Wise Without Eyes'). 231 Wing. 205 Group

Type: Wellington IC

Serial: DV669

Code: LF-W

Base: LG 09 - Bir Koralyim, Egypt

Location: Benghazi, Libya

Pilot: F/O. William Lynn Kauter NZ/405281 RNZAF Age 26. Killed

Pilot: P/O. William George Duncan Thurston NZ/41376 RNZAF Age 27. Killed

Obs: P/O. Ivan Peter Duxbury 106248 RAFVR Age 29. Killed

W/Op/Air/Gnr: Fl/Sgt. Lorenzo Richard Feasey NZ/403572 RNZAF Age 20. Killed

W/Op/Air/Gnr: Sgt. Francis Victor Bretherton 1058752 RAFVR Age 21. Killed

Air/Gnr: Sgt. Victor George Frederick Walklin 624970 RAF Age 23. Killed

REASON FOR LOSS:

Took off from LG 09 (Bir Koralyim) at 20:00 hrs detailed to attack the harbour and shipping at Benghazi.

A stricken aircraft (thought to be DV669) was seen going down steadily near the target. All are buried in Benghazi War Cemetery.

Burial details:

F/O. William Lynn Kauter. Benghazi War Cemetery. Grave 6.G.9. Born on the 26th October 1915 at Napier. Worked as a clerk for Levin and Company at Wanganui. Enlisted on the 21§st December 1940 at Levin. Trained with No. 2 Elementary Flying Training School on 08th February 1941. Pilots badge awarded on the 05th May 1941 and commissioned on the 14th June 1941. Embarked for England on the 22nd July 1941. Further training with 11 and 15 Operational Training Units. Flew a Wellington to Egypt via Gibraltar and Malta on the 30th March 1942. Joined 37 squadron on the 23rd April 1942. Son of Stephen Kauter and of Clara Harriet Clarendale Kauter (née Steed - died 04th November 1924, age 37), of Napier, Hawkes Bay, New Zealand. A total of 321 flying hours logged and on his 11th operational sortie.

P/O. William George Duncan Thurston. Benghazi War Cemetery. Grave 6.G.7. Born on the 02nd June 1915 at Heriot. Worked as a wool classer for Williams and Kettle Ltd at Napier. Enlisted at Levin on the 18th January 1941. trained at No. 3 Elementary Flying Training School. Pilots badge awarded on the 25th May 1941 and commissioned on the 05th July 1941. Embarked for England on the 22nd July 1941. Further training with 20 and 15 Operational Training Units before joining 44 squadron on the 23rd December 1941. Flew a Wellington to Egypt via Gibraltar and Malta on the 30th January 1942. Crewed a Wellington flown by F/O. Kauter to Egypt via Gibraltar and Malta on the 30th March 1942. Joined 37 squadron on the 23rd April 1942. Son of Frederick John Brooks Thurston and of Mary Thurston (née Crossan), of Heriot, Otago, New Zealand and husband of Hazel White Thurston (née McCallum), of Rangiora, Canterbury, New Zealand. A total of 340 flying hours logged and on his 11th operational sortie.

P/O. Ivan Peter Duxbury. Benghazi War Cemetery. Grave 7.C.16. Son of George Carr Duxbury and Gracie Elizabeth Duxbury and husband of Eileen Mary Duxbury, of Upton, Berkshire, England. Grave inscription: 'Resurgam'.

Fl/Sgt. Lorenzo Richard Feasey. Benghazi War Cemetery. Grave 6.G.8. Born on the 02nd January 1922 at Wellington. Worked as a telegram sorter for P and T Department at Wellington. Enlisted on the 29th September 1940 at Levin. Embarked for Canada on the 05th November 1940. Air gunners badge awarded on the and promoted to sergeant on the 26th May 1941. Embarked for England on the 18th June 1941. Further training with No. 11 Operational Training Unit. crewed a Wellington flown by F/O. Kauter to Egypt via Gibraltar and Malta on the 30th January 1942. Son of Richard George Feasey (died 18th March 1940, age 62) and of Rachel Eleanor Feasey (née Bradley - died 30th August 1938, age 50), of Petone, Wellington, New Zealand. On his 11th operational sortie.

Sgt. Francis Victor Bretherton. Benghazi War Cemetery. Grave 7.C.13. Son of John and Anne Bretherton, of Anfield, Liverpool, England. Grave inscription: 'Our Dearly Loved Son. Always In Our Thoughts R.I.P. Mum, Dad And Brothers'.

Sgt. Victor George Frederick Walklin. Benghazi War Cemetery. Grave 7.C.15. Son of Victor George and Laura Maud Walklin, of Devonport, England. Grave inscription: 'He Is Dear To Us Yet. We Loved Him Too Dearly To Ever Forget. Mum, Dad, Brothers, Sister'.

Researched and dedicated to the relatives of this crew 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:

KTY 23-11-2021

Pages of Outstanding Interest
History Airborne Forces •  Soviet Night Witches •  Bomber Command Memories •  Abbreviations •  Gardening Codenames
CWGC: Your Relative's Grave Explained •  USA Flygirls •  Axis Awards Descriptions •  'Lack Of Moral Fibre'
Concept of Colonial Discrimination  •  Unauthorised First Long Range Mustang Attack
RAAF Bomb Aimer Evades with Maquis •  SOE Heroine Nancy Wake •  Fane: Motor Racing PRU Legend
Acknowledgements
Sources used by us in compiling Archive Reports include: Bill Chorley - 'Bomber Command Losses Vols. 1-9, plus ongoing revisions', Dr. Theo E.W. Boiten and Mr. Roderick J. Mackenzie - 'Nightfighter War Diaries Vols. 1 and 2', Martin Middlebrook and Chris Everitt - 'Bomber Command War Diaries', Commonwealth War Graves Commission, Tom Kracker - Kracker Luftwaffe Archives, Michel Beckers, Major Fred Paradie (RCAF) and MWO François Dutil (RCAF) - Paradie Archive (on this site), Jean Schadskaje, Major Jack O'Connor USAF (Retd.), Robert Gretzyngier, Wojtek Matusiak, Waldemar Wójcik and Józef Zieliński - 'Ku Czci Połeglyçh Lotnikow 1939-1945', Archiwum - Polish Air Force Archive (on this site), Anna Krzystek, Tadeusz Krzystek - 'Polskie Siły Powietrzne w Wielkiej Brytanii', Franek Grabowski, Norman L.R. Franks 'Fighter Command Losses', Stan D. Bishop, John A. Hey MBE, Gerrie Franken and Maco Cillessen - Losses of the US 8th and 9th Air Forces, Vols 1-6, Dr. Theo E.W. Boiton - Nachtjagd Combat Archives, Vols 1-13. Aircrew Remembered Databases and our own archives. We are grateful for the support and encouragement of CWGC, UK Imperial War Museum, Australian War Memorial, Australian National Archives, New Zealand National Archives, UK National Archives and Fold3 and countless dedicated friends and researchers across the world.
Click any image to enlarge it

Click to add your info via ticket on Helpdesk •Click to let us know via ticket on Helpdesk• Click to explore the entire site
If you would like to comment on this page, please do so via our Helpdesk. Use the Submit a Ticket option to send your comments. After review, our Editors will publish your comment below with your first name, but not your email address.

A word from the Editor: your contribution is important. We welcome your comments and information. Thanks in advance.

At the going down of the sun, and in the morning we will remember them. - Laurence Binyon
All site material (except as noted elsewhere) is owned or managed by Aircrew Remembered and should not be used without prior permission.
© Aircrew Remembered 2012 - 2024
Last Modified: 23 November 2021, 13:23

Monitor Additions/Changes?Click to be informed of changes to this page. Create account for first monitor only, thereafter very fast. Click to close without creating monitor