Operation: Training

Date: 05/6th May 1943 (WednesdayThursday)

Unit: No. 51 Operational Training Unit. 9 Group

Type: Beaufighter IF

Serial: X7616

Code: Not known

Base: RAF Cranfield, Bedfordshire

Location: Manor Farm Hall, Bletchley

Pilot: Sgt. Gordon Christian Noesgaard Miller NZ/416521 RNZAF Age 23. Killed

REASON FOR LOSS:

Taking off at around 00:55 hrs on a radio transmission training exercise.

Just 90 minutes later the Beaufighter dived into the ground at the location shown.

Subsequent enquiries decided he may have lost control after becoming disorientated by allowing himself to be distracted from his instruments. The aircraft was completely buried in the impact which occurred at 01:25 hrs, but continued to burn some 24 hours later.

Burial details:

Sgt. Gordon Christian Noesgaard Miller. Kempston Cemetery. Block J. Grave 90. Born on the 20th December 1919 at Woodville, the son of Leonard Henry Miller, and of Thora Miller (later McCalmont), of Auckland City, New Zealand. Prior to service worked as a labourer in Masterton. A total of 323 flying hours logged.

(Note: we believe that the CWGC have both his name Noesgaard spelt incorrectly as Noesgarrd and his age as 22)

Researched and dedicated to the relatives of this pilot with thanks to the research by Errol Martyn and his publications: “For Your Tomorrow Vols. 1-3”, Auckland War Memorial Museum, Weekly News of New Zealand, other sources as quoted below:

At the going down of the sun, and in the morning we will remember them. - Laurence Binyon
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