Operation: Reconnaissance Patrol

Date: 24th April 1941 (Thursday)

Unit No: 107 Squadron (motto: 'Nous Y Serons - 'We shall be there'), 18 Group, Coastal Command

Type: Blenheim IV

Serial: Z5795

Code: OM:M

Base: RAF Leuchars, Fifeshire, Scotland

Location: North Sea off Norway

Pilot: Plt Off. Charles Peter Hope MacLaren 86640 RAFVR Age 20. KiA

Obs: Sgt. Anthony James 'Tony' Hannah 40738 RNZAF Age 21. MiA

WOp/Air Gnr: Sgt. Douglas Stevenson Hutcheon King 751304 RAFVR Age? MiA

REASON FOR LOSS:

Taking off from RAF Leuchars at 18:00 on a 'stand' patrol which was from Stavanger to Andalsnes.

Shot down by enemy fighters with Z5795 coming down into the North Sea. Only the body of the pilot was washed ashore later at Kristiansand.

It must be pointed out that the family of the pilot kindly had an inscription on his grave to his fellow crew members.

Note: Flt Lt. Anthony Richardson, RAF Poet, wrote a poem dedicated to this crew 'Aftermath'. published in 1943 in 'These - Our Children'. You are able to read it here. (see credits)

Aircrew Remembered was contacted by David Winn, the uncle of Sgt. Hannah, in February 2024 who informed us that he had received a letter from Norway, via the Royal Air Force, informing him that the writer was an amateur diver and had discovered the wreckage of Tony Hannah’s plane underwater near the coast of Norway. He was able to read the aircraft markings and contacted the RAF who provided his address in New Zealand.

Tony was destined to work in a large footwear company in New Zealand and was considered a golden haired boy who would carry on the family tradition in the company. David followed in his footsteps some 20 years later but the loss of Tony was sorely felt by the company and an outstanding leader never realised his potential.

Burial details:

Above: lower portion of Plt Off. MacLaren grave honouring his crew mates.

Above: Funeral for Plt Off. MacLaren at Kristiansand showing the German honour guard (courtesy John Knifton)

Plt Off. Charles Peter Hope MacLaren. Kristiansand Civil Cemetery. Grave VIA. D. 1. Grave inscription: '"NOUS Y SERONS". Son of John Walter and Elizabeth Lennie Maclaren (née Hope), of Peebles, Scottish Borders.

His Brave Companions Sergeants Hannah And King Have No Known Grave'. (note: Nous Y Serons is the squadron motto)

Sgt. Anthony James 'Tony' Hannah. Runnymede Memorial. Panel 64. Born on the 10th November 1920 at Wellington. Son of James Alexander Hannah and Sybil Maud Hannah (née Johnson) of Wellington, New Zealand.

A ledger clerk fo the Bank of New Zealand prior to service. Enlisted at Levin on the 12th March 1940 and obtained his observers badge and promoted to Sgt. on the 27th March 1940. 164 flying hours logged and on his 12th operational sortie.

Sgt. Douglas Stevenson Hutcheon King. Runnymede Memorial. Panel 46. Born in Edinburgh, Scotland. No further details.

He is remembered on the Roll on Honour at the Scottish National War Memorial

Researched by Kelvin Youngs (Webmaster) and dedicated to the relatives of this crew with thanks to John Knifton for funeral photo and for bringing this loss to our attention. Jenifer Lemaire and to the extensive research by Errol Martyn and his publications: “For Your Tomorrow Vols. 1-3”, Auckland Library Heritage Collection, AWMM, Weekly News of New Zealand. Information from David Winn added (Feb 2024).

Other sources as quoted below:

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 - 2026 Last Modified: 05 February 2024, 10:29