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Archive Report: Allied Forces

Compiled from official National Archive and Service sources, contemporary press reports, personal logbooks, diaries and correspondence, reference books, other sources, and interviews.
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415 Squadron Crest
03.04.1943 No. 415 Squadron Hampden I L4084 W/O. Donald Montgomery

Operation: Training

Date: 03rd April 1943 (Saturday)

Unit: No. 415 Squadron (Coastal Command)

Type: Hampden TB.I

Serial: L4084

Code: GX-

Base: RAF Thorney Island, Hampshire

Location: Goose Green, near Arundel, Sussex

Pilot: W/O. II. Donald Montgomery R/101199 RCAF Age 20. Killed

Nav: W/O. II. William James MacKay R/107062 RCAF Age 22. Killed

W/Op/Air/Gnr: Fl/Sgt. John William Whipple R/105760 RCAF Age 22. Killed

W/Op/Air/Gnr: Fl/Sgt. John Douglas Scott R/98256 RCAF Age 20. Killed

REASON FOR LOSS:

Engaged on training using evasive tactics with two Typhoon aircraft when the Hampden went out of control and entered a spin at 2,000 ft. The aircraft failed to recover and crashed at Goose Green, Sussex - killing all the Canadian crew members. Crash timed at 10:50 hrs.

On the 29th October 1942 whilst with 5 Operational Training Unit, the pilot, then Sgt. Montgomery and Air Gunner Sgt. Scott suffered minor injuries when Hampden P1284 made a forced landing and failed to stop, hitting hedges and a telegraph pole.

Burial details:

Crew buried on the 7th April with the 415 Squadron Canadian Base Padre, Sq/Ldr. Bruce Millar taking the service.

W/O. II. Donald Montgomery. Littlehampton Cemetery, Sussex. Sec. D. Grave 4273. Son of William and Hazel May (née Hutchinson) Montgomery, Cultus Lake, British Columbia, Canada.

W/O. II. William James MacKay. Littlehampton Cemetery, Sussex. Sec. D. Grave 4270. Son of Edward Donald and Fanny (née Featherstone) MacKay, of Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada.

Fl/Sgt. John William Whipple. Littlehampton Cemetery, Sussex. Sec. D. Grave 4271. Son of Archibald and Maria Whipple believed to be from Nordegg, Alberta, Canada. Grave inscription reads ‘Ever Remembered Ever Dear.’

Fl/Sgt. John Douglas Scott. Littlehampton Cemetery, Sussex. Sec. D. Grave 4272. Son of Robert and Bessie May Scott, of Windsor, Ontario, Canada. His brother, Cpl. Robert G. Scott also served in the RCAF. Grave inscription reads ‘A Gunner’s Life Was All I Had To Give That British Justice Truth And Honour Live.’

Loss page instigated by Gene Roach who contacted us in April 2016. Researched and dedicated to the relatives of this crew with thanks to sources indicated below:

KTY 30.04.2016

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Acknowledgements
Sources used by us in compiling Archive Reports include: Bill Chorley - 'Bomber Command Losses Vols. 1-9, plus ongoing revisions', Dr. Theo E.W. Boiten and Mr. Roderick J. Mackenzie - 'Nightfighter War Diaries Vols. 1 and 2', Martin Middlebrook and Chris Everitt - 'Bomber Command War Diaries', Commonwealth War Graves Commission, Tom Kracker - Kracker Luftwaffe Archives, Michel Beckers, Major Fred Paradie (RCAF) and MWO François Dutil (RCAF) - Paradie Archive (on this site), Jean Schadskaje, Major Jack O'Connor USAF (Retd.), Robert Gretzyngier, Wojtek Matusiak, Waldemar Wójcik and Józef Zieliński - 'Ku Czci Połeglyçh Lotnikow 1939-1945', Archiwum - Polish Air Force Archive (on this site), Anna Krzystek, Tadeusz Krzystek - 'Polskie Siły Powietrzne w Wielkiej Brytanii', Franek Grabowski, Norman L.R. Franks 'Fighter Command Losses', Stan D. Bishop, John A. Hey MBE, Gerrie Franken and Maco Cillessen - Losses of the US 8th and 9th Air Forces, Vols 1-6, Dr. Theo E.W. Boiton - Nachtjagd Combat Archives, Vols 1-13. Aircrew Remembered Databases and our own archives. We are grateful for the support and encouragement of CWGC, UK Imperial War Museum, Australian War Memorial, Australian National Archives, New Zealand National Archives, UK National Archives and Fold3 and countless dedicated friends and researchers across the world.
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