Mission: Training Exercise
Date: 4th April 1944 (Tuesday)
Unit: No. 196 Squadron. 'A' Flight
Type: Stirling IV
Serial: LJ842
Code: ?
Base: RAF Keevil, Trowbridge, Wiltshire
Location: Nr. Romsey, Hampshire
Pilot: W/O. John Hugh Lees. AUS/410069. RAAF Age 28. Killed
Fl/Eng: Sgt. Shayrene Meera. 1697800. RAFVR Age 19. Killed
Nav: F/O. John Robert Teece. 145397. RAFVR Age ? Killed
Air/Bmr: Fl/Sgt. John Thomas Wilkinson. 1532527. RAFVR Age 29. Killed
W/Op/Air/Gnr: Fl/Sgt. Kenrick Payne. AUS/408353. RAAF Age 21. Killed
Air/Gnr: Sgt. Sidney Claypole. 1229967. RAFVR Age 23.Killed
Left: Striling aircraft towing a Horsa Glider Right: Sgt. Lees 1st on left back row
REASON FOR LOSS:
Took off from RAF Keevil towing Horsa LG999 on a Group training exercise, code named 'Dreme' This cross-country night exercise of various legs was to take three and half hours and the gliders were to be released over Brize Norton. Low cloud was reported in the Lewis area and on the leg from Lewis to Winchester lower cloud than expected was encountered.The pilot decided to fly below the cloud and hit the top of a tree. The glider released immediately and crashed at Warnford killing all on board. Stirling LJ842 continued in the air for approx 15 minutes and crashed at 21:00hrs 1m SW of Romsey some 18 miles from the glider accident.
W/O. Lees and Fl/Sgt. Payne
Burial details:
W/O. John Hugh Lees. Bath (Haycombe) Cemetery. Somerset. Plot 39. Sec. H. Row B. Grave 247. Son of John William and Mary Jane Lees of Diggora South, Victoria, Australia. W/O. Lees was buried on the 12th April 1944 with full service honours
Sgt. Shayrene Meera. Gateshead East Cemetery, Durham. Div. 30. Grave 222. Son of Massahood Meera and of Harriet Meera of Gateshead
F/O. John Robert Teece. Dudley (St. Augustine, Holly Hall) Churchyard, Worcestershire. Block A. Row 2. Grave 22. No further information as yet
Fl/Sgt. John Thomas Wilkinson. South Shields (Harton) Cemetery. Durham. Sec. M. Grave 10117. Son of Norman and Elizabeth Catherine Wilkinson of South Shields
Fl/Sgt. Kenrick Payne. Bath (Haycombe) Cemetery. Somerset. Plot 39. Sec. H. Row C. Grave 247. Son of Kenrick Taylor Payne and Mary Winifred Payne of South Forest, Taasmania, Australia. Fl/Sgt. Payne was buried on the 12th April 1944 with full service honours.
Sgt. Sidney Claypole. Nottingham Church Cemetery, Nottinghamshire. All Souls Sec. Grave 7844. Son of Henry and Elizabeth Claypole of Nottingham
Researched by: Kate Tame for Aircrew Remembered and all the relatives of the crew
Acknowledgements: Commonwealth War Graves Commission, Australian War Museum, Find a Grave, Imperial War Museum
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: 26 March 2021, 18:45