Operation: Ferry Flight

Date: 6th/7th April 1941 (Sunday/Monday)

Unit: No. 3 Group, Training Flight (TF)

Type: Wellington Ic

Serial: N2818

Code: -

Base: RAF Stradishall, Suffolk

Location: Ain Amara, Algeria

Pilot: Plt Off. Gilbert Theodore Kimberley 391359 RNZAF Age 24. Killed

2nd Pilot: Sgt. Keith Ruthven Rands-Allen 1150195 RAFVR Age 19. Killed

Obs. Herbert Llewellyn Williams 969577 RAFVR Age 26. Kiled

WOp/Air Gnr: Sgt. Robert Whyman Fairlamb 945584 RAFVR Age 28. Killed

WOp/Air Gnr: Sgt. Robert Cameron McCracken 652274 RAF Age 25. Killed

Air Gnr: Sgt. Walter Alexander Watts 401449 RNZAF Age 27. Killed

REASON FOR LOSS:

The New Zealand crew members were being posted from 75 Squadron to join Middle East Command along with this aircraft.

Leaving RAF Stradishall en route to Malta when they deviated from the track and crashed at 03:00 hrs some 5 km east of Das el Aka and 4km south from Ain Amora in Algeria.

They were seen to descend below the clouds with landing light on and engines throttled back. As they saw the ground the engines were then opened up again but crashed into a knoll between two large hills. It is not known if they were attempting an emergency landing or simply identifying their position.

Burial details:

Plt Off. Gilbert Theodore Kimberley. Bone War Cemetery, Annaba, Algeria. Grave II. D. 10. Son of the Ven. Archdeacon, Oliver James Kimberley and of Hilda Annie Kimberley (née Kempthorne), of All Saints Vicarage, Nelson, New Zealand. Born on the 3rd November 1916 at Auckland. A shepherd prior enlisting on the 19th November 1939.

Sgt. Keith Ruthven Rands-Allen. Bone War Cemetery, Annaba, Algeria. Grave II. D. 9. Born on the 27th June 1921 in Hipperholme, Yorkshire. The youngest son of Ronald Leslie and Alice (née Akroyd) Rands-Allen of Hipperholme, Yorkshire, England.

He dropped the "Rands" part of his surname in every day use hence his name being reported as Sgt. Keith Ruthann Allen.

Above: LAC Keith Ruthven Allen with his Pilot's Wings. It appears that this photograph was taken whilst under he was under pilot training (Courtesy of Keith Rands-Allen)

Notification letters for the loss of Sgt. Allen (Courtesy of Keith Rands-Allen)

Sgt. Herbert Llewellyn Williams. Bone War Cemetery, Annaba, Algeria. Grave II. D. 11. Grave inscription; "HIS LIFE A BEAUTIFUL MEMORY, HIS DEATH A SILENT GRIEF. DAD AND MAM". Son of Herbert Lloyd and Elizabeth Williams, of Llanishen, Glamorgan. B.A.

Above L to R: Plt Off. Gilbert Theodore Kimberley, Sgt. Walter Alexander Watts, Sgt. Robert Whyman Fairlamb. (courtesy Joe Fairlamb)

Sgt. Robert Whyman Fairlamb. Bone War Cemetery, Annaba, Algeria. Grave II. D. 6. Grave inscription; "GREATER LOVE HATH NO MAN THAN THIS, THAT A MAN LAY DOWN HIS LIFE FOR HIS FRIENDS". Son of Robert and Margaret Fairlamb, of Ponteland, Northumberland.

Sgt. Robert Cameron McCracken. Bone War Cemetery, Annaba, Algeria. Grave II. D. 7. Residence has been reported to be Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.

Sgt. Walter Alexander Watts. Bone War Cemetery, Annaba, Algeria. Grave II. D. 18. Born on the 4th September 1913 at Alexandra and a fruit inspector prior enlisting in 1940. Son of George Glen and Edna Green (née Mills) of Alexandra, South Island, New Zealand.

Researched by Kelvin Youngs (webmaster) and dedicated to the relatives of this crew with thanks to Jenifer Lemaire and 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, also to Joe Fairlamb great nephew). Thanks Keith Rands-Allen, the son of Sgt. Allen, for his NoK details and images (Feb 2022).

Other sources as quoted below:

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