Operation: Training

Date: 07th July 1943 (Wednesday)

Unit: No. 15 Operational Training Unit (1)

Type: Wellington Ic

Serial: X3160

Code: -

Base: RAF Harwell, Oxfordshire

Location: White Horse north of Odstone

Pilot: Fl/Lt. Raymond Kirby Kirby DFM. 129117 RAFVR Age 24. Killed

Pilot: F/O. Robert Victor Paul 138879 RAFVR Age 21. Killed

Nav: Sgt. Raymond George Bates 1338950 RAFVR Age 27. Killed

Air/Bmr: Sgt. Roy Albert James Farahar 1576328 RAFVR Age 27. Killed

Air/Bmr: Fl/Sgt. John Ramsay Tonkin Aus/416631 RAAF Age 20. Killed

W/Op/Air/Gnr: W/O. Charles Willie Brooks Aus/400450 RAAF Age 24. Killed

W/Op/Air/Gnr: Fl/Sgt. James Foster Hansen Aus/414560 RAAF Age 24. Killed

Air/Gnr: Sgt. Lysle Herbert Hungerford Dearing Aus/413550 RAAF Age 19. Killed

REASON FOR LOSS:

Taking off at 11:05 hours on a cross-country training exercise. The aircraft caught fire following the failure of the holding down studs to No 5 cylinder in the port engine and at 13:10 hours the bomber broke up in the air.

The main debris fell over White Horse Hill, some two miles north of Odstone, a hamlet 2 kms north east of Ashbury, and 8 kms north west of Lambourn, Berkshire. All the crew members were killed.

103 squadron site (see link below) write 'Having survived 2 tours and a ditching and several 'Shaky Dos' Raymond Kitney was killed.

(1) 15 Operational Training Unit was formed in August 1940 as part of No. 6 Group RAF Bomber Command at RAF Harwell to train night bomber crews on the Vickers Wellington. In 1942 it carried out seven operational missions. It was disbanded in March 1944.
OTU were the last stage of training for aircrew before being assigned to an operational unit in NW Europe and other theatres of war. By this stage, individuals had undertaken all their preparatory and qualification training, and shortly after arrival the the OTU, if they were operating a crewed aircraft, they would be 'crewed up' with the other men with whom they would go to war. T
his was done on an almost random basis by men just picking each other out in the crowd until they had got the necessary mix of 'musterings' (Pilot Navigator Wireless Operator / Air Gunners depending on the aircraft) to make up their crew with whom they would fly, until separated by death, injury, illness or re-posting

Loss rates in training were high due to inexperience, crowded airspace, often poor weather, and even enemy aircraft operating over the United Kingdom.

Burial and other details:

Fl/Lt. Raymond Kirby Kirby Kitney DFM. Feltham Cemetery Sec. A. Grave 68. Son of William and Elizabeth Kitney, husband of Eve Kitney (née Schnieders. later Hay - died 2005, age 80) and a daughter born on the 08th October 1943, of Beaconsfield, Buckinghamshire, England.

F/O. Robert Victor Paul. Norwich City. Section 54. Grave 142. Son of Robert and Edith Paul, of Norwich, England. Epitaph: 'His Memory Is Our Greatest Treasure, In Our Hearts He Lives For Ever. Peace'.

Sgt. Raymond George Bates. Hersham (St. Peter) Churchyard) Sec. C. Row 18. Grave 14. Son of Arthur Ernest and Annie Edith Bates of Walton-on-Thames, England. Epitaph: 'One Of Our Aircraft Is Missing But The Crew Is Safe'.

Sgt. Roy Albert James Farahar. Gillingham Cemetery (Woodlands). Sec. G. Grave 82. Only son of Albert (died 27rg April 1951, age 67) and Florence Emma Farahar (died 05th September 1973), age 88. of Rainham, Gillingham. Husband of Gladys Irene Farahar, of Swanley, Kent, England. Epitaph: 'In Loving Memory Only Son Of A. And F. Farahar Husband Of Gladys Irene. Eternal Rest, O Lord

Fl/Sgt. John Ramsay Tonkin. (shown left). Oxford Cemetery (Botley), Plot I/2. Grave 17. Born on the 1th6 March 1923 in Murray, Brisbane Son of Alfred Alan John Tonkin (died 06th March 1947, age 54) and Dora Tonkin (née Scott - died 13th March 1954, age 61). Brother of Eva Catherine Back, Bernice Gwendoline, Scholes, Winifred Muriel Hearn, Hazel Aileen, Doyle and Gordon Newman of Barmera, South Australia. . Epitaph: 'His Duty Fearlessly And Nobly Done'.

W/O. Charles Willie Brooks. (shown right). Oxford Cemetery (Botley), Plot I/2. Grave 18. Born on the 14th March 1919 in Wonthaggi, Victoria. Embarked for England at Sydney on the 13th September 1940. Son of Thomas Henry Humphrey (died 30th January 1979, age 87)and Annis Brooks (née Kelly died in 1970, age 82), of Korumburra, Victoria, Australia. Epitaph: 'Son Of Thomas Henry Humphrey And Annis Brooks, Of Korumburra, Victoria, Australia'.

Fl/Sgt. James Foster Hansen. Oxford Cemetery (Botley), Plot I/2. Grave 15. Born on the 04th January 192 in 414560 Age 22. 4 Jan 1921 in Brisbane, Queensland. Son of Anton Peter Hansen (died 21st August 1930, age 64) and Margaret Hansen (née Dean - died 21st September 1940, age 59) of Brisbane Queensland, Australia. Epitaph: 'Lovingly Remembered By His Sister, Brothers And Friends'.

Sgt. Lysle Herbert Hungerford Dearing. (shown left)Oxford Cemetery (Botley), Plot I/2. Grave 16. Born on the 12th August 1923 in Marrickville New South Wales. Son of Lysle Edward Dearing (died 15th 0ctober 1960, age 60) and Rita Gwendoline Dearing (né Herbert - died 07th August 1989 age 83). Epitaph: 'His Contribution To The Atlantic Charter'.

Researched and dedicated to the relatives of this crew with thanks to the Paul McGuiness Australian Archives, Government of Australia WW2 Swevice records, 103 Squadron website

Other sources as quoted below:

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