Operation: Rover patrol

Date: 29th January 1945 (Monday)

Unit: No. 489 (NZ) Squadron (motto: Whakatanagata kia kaha - 'Acquit yourselves like men, be strong'). 18 Group

Type: Beaufighter TF.X

Serial: NE779

Code: P6-A

Base: RAF Dallachy, Morayshire

Location: Foeuroy, Norway

Pilot: W/O. 'Ray' Raymond William Gibson Leslie NZ/415702 RNZAF Age 24. Killed

Nav: F/O. Neville Alexander Heffernan NZ/423665 RNZAF Age 23. Killed

REASON FOR LOSS:

Taking off at 19:40 hrs. one of five leaving at intervals on a Rover patrol off Bommel Fjord near Haugesund.

Two crews failed to return, the other Beaufighter TF.X NE538 P6-E flown by 26 year old, Fl/Lt. Lloyd Robert Stuchbery NZ/412761 RNZAF (Missing) with his navigator 30 year old, F/O. Rex Stewart Ebert Aus/413840 RAAF (taken PoW) Further information.

NE779 discovered to have exploded on striking a rock 30 metres off the rocky shore of the small island of Foeuroy at 21:15 hrs. while still carrying its torpedo. The bodies of the two crew, which had been thrown clear, were buried on the 15th February in a joint grave at Bergen.

Burial and personal details:

W/O. Raymond William Gibson Leslie. Bergen Church Cemetery (Mollendal). Joint grave D. 10. Also remembered on family grave at Waimairi Cemetery, Christchurch. Born on the 25th July 1920 at Christchurch, Canterbury. Enlisted at Levin on the 19th December 1941. Awarded his pilots badge on the 24th April 1942.Embarked for England on the 10th May 1942. Further training with various units before going No. 3 (C) Operational Training Unit. Injured flying an Anson on the 23rd December 1942 in a landing accident.

Further training with 132 Operational Training Unit . and 5 (C) Operational Training Unit before joining 489 squadron on the 31st May 1944. Son of Richard Sheridan (died 24th July 1957, age 77) and Catherine Leslie (nee Gibson - died 02nd August 1971, age 87), of 6 Cashel Street, Christchurch, Canterbury, New Zealand. A total of 106 flying hours logged and on his 25th operational sortie.

F/O. Neville Alexander Heffernan. Bergen Church Cemetery (Mollendal). Joint grave D. 10. Born 02nd November 1921 at Auckland. Enlisted at Wellington on the 01st June 1942 and commissioned as Accounts Officer. After training in Canada awarded his air observer badge on the 14th May 1942.

Embarked for England on the 23rd June 1943 and further training with 132 Operational Training Unit and 12 Operational Training Unit before joining 489 squadron on the 31st May 1944. Son of F/O. Martin Bernard of the works section, Admin and Special Duties Branch, RNZAF, and May Matilda Heffernan (nee McLeod - died 1968), of Auckland, New Zealand. A total of 362 flying hours logged and on his 34th operational sortie.

Researched and dedicated to the relatives of this pilot with thanks to the extensive research by Errol Martyn and his publications: “For Your Tomorrow Vols. 1-3”, Auckland Library Heritage Collection, MystikNZ for family grave photo, Weekly News of New Zealand, other sources as quoted below:

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