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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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489 crest
26th April 1945 489 Squadron Beaufighter TF.X RD333 F/O. Morrison

Operation: Rover (1)

Date: 26th April 1945 (Thursday)

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

Type: Beaufighter TF.X

Serial: RD333

Code: P6-?

Base: RAF Dallachy, Morayshire, Scotland

Location: Not known - lost without trace

Pilot: F/O. John Kendall Morrison NZ/4216106 RNZAF Age 22. Missing - believed killed

Nav: W/O. Frederick Raymond Wilkinson NZ/429386 RNZAF Age 24. Missing - believed killed

REASON FOR LOSS:

On a Rover operation to the Homborsund Fjord in Norway. Very little known about this loss as they were listed as lost without trace.

(1) Rover - Armed reconnaissance flights with attacks on opportunity targets

Above 489 Squadron Beaufighters (courtesy IWM Films)

Burial details:

F/O. John Kendall Morrison. Runnymede Memorial. Panel. Panel 285. Born on the 16th May 1923 at Wellington. Enlisted in the RNZAF on the 15th April 1943 from the army. A law student for Findlay, Hoggard, Cousins and Wright solicitors prior to service. Son of John Cruickshank Morrison and Grace Morrison (née Croft), of Wellington, New Zealand. 452 flying hours logged and completed 7 operational sorties.

W/O. Frederick Raymond Wilkinson Runnymede Memorial. Panel 285. Born on the 08th May 1920 at Christchurch. A clerk prior to service with NZR. Enlisted on the 31st July 1942. Son of Frederick Schofield Wilkinson and Florence Beatrice Wilkinson, of Christchurch, Canterbury, New Zealand. 310 flying hours logged and completed, it is thought, 7 operational sorties.

Researched and dedicated to the relatives of this crew with thanks to 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, other sources as quoted below:

KTY 01-02-2021

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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 Captain 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', Andrew Mielnik: Archiwum - Polish Air Force Archive (on this site), Anna Krzystek, Tadeusz Krzystek - 'Polskie Siły Powietrzne w Wielkiej Brytanii', Franek Grabowski, Polish graves: https://niebieskaeskadra.pl/, PoW Museum Żagań, 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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