Operation: Training

Date: 17th February 1942 (Tuesday)

Unit: No. 11 Operational Training Unit. 6 Group

Type: Wellington IC

Serial: T2710

Code: -

Base: RAF Bassingbourn, Cambridgeshire

Location: Steeple Morden

Pilot: Sgt. Alexander (Alistair) Livingstone 1365877 RAFVR Age 21. Killed

Obs: Sgt. Isaac Henry Cunningham 1072712 RAFVR Age 21. Killed

W/Op/Air/Gnr: Sgt. Percy John Havelock Hamlin NZ/437013 RNZAF Age 26. Killed

W/Op/Air/Gnr: Sgt. Hylton Carlyle George NZ/401265 RNZAF Age 29. Killed

REASON FOR LOSS:

Taking off from RAF Steeple Morden at 20:10 hrs on a training exercise.

Almost immediately the aircraft lost power and crashed and caught fire killing all the crew.

Burial details:

Sgt. Alexander (Alistair) Livingstone. Bathgate Cemetery. Sec. T. Grave 347. Also remembered on the Steeple Morden 355Th War Memorial. Son of James (died 14th January 1937, age 55) and Jeanie Livingstone (died 03rd December 1971, age 84), of Bathgate, West Lothian, Scotland. Remembered on family headstone as Alistair - CWGC list him as Alexander.

Sgt. Isaac Henry Cunningham. Clonallon Church Of Ireland Churchyard. Sec. 10 Grave 6. Also remembered on the Steeple Morden 355Th War Memorial. Son of Isaac and Margaret Cunningham, of Burren, County Clare, Ireland.

Sgt. Percy John Havelock Hamlin. Bassingbourn Cum Kneesworth Cemetery. Row FF. Grave 12. Also remembered on the Steeple Morden 355Th War Memorial. Born on the 13th January 1916 at Napier. Worked as a telegraphist for P an T Department at Wellington. Served in TAF and Wellington squadron then with RNZAF on the 04th September 1939.

Embarked for England on the 25th July 1940.Trained with 15 Operational Training Unit on 09th September 1940. Air gunner badge and promoted to sergeant on the 04th October 1941. Joined 11 Operational Training Unit on the 28th October 1941. Son of Cecil Augustus Eba Hamlin (died 01st October 1955) and Euphemia Christie Hamlin (née Lean - died 17th June 1949, age 59), of Napier, Hawke's Bay, New Zealand.

Sgt. Hylton Carlyle George. Bassingbourn Cum Kneesworth Cemetery. Row FF. Grave 11. Also remembered on the Steeple Morden 355Th War Memorial. Born on the 15th November 1913 at Eketahuna. A self employed sheep farmer prior to service. A civil reserve pilot of the Wairarapa and Ruahine Aero Club. Awarded his ''A' licence on the 04th April 1939Around 44 flying hours logged prior to service. Enlisted at Levin on the 07th May 1940 for pilot training. Started training with No. 1 Elementary Flying Training School on the 04th June 1940, then with No. 1 Flying Training School. Pilot training terminated and remastered as an air gunner on the 17th October 1940.

Embarked for Canada on the 05th December 1940. Air gunner badge and promoted to sergeant on the 23rd June 1941. Embarked for England on the 06th July 1941. Further trains with 11 Operational Training Unit on the on the 25th November 1941. Son of Sinclair Munro George (died 23rd May 1933, age 60) and of Edith George (née Butterfield - died 07th September 1964, age 83), of Alfredton, Wellington, New Zealand.

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:

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