Operation: Training

Date: 27th April 1942 (Thursday)

Unit: 23 Operational Training Unit

Type: Wellington Ic

Serial: R1618

Code: BY-?

Base: RAF Defford

Location: RAF Defford, Worcestershire

Pilot (Screened): P/O. Lindsay Will Munro NZ/40776 RNZAF Age 28. Slightly injured - abrasions

Pilot (Pupil): Sgt. V. Ardis R/88972 RCAF (In reality an American). Slightly injured - badly cut right hand and facial abrasions

Obs (Screened): P/O. Thomas William Copson DFM. 118902 RAFVR. Uninjured

Obs (Pupil): Sgt. Ronald Angus Hamilton AUS/403107 RAAF Age 22. Slightly injured - bruised left knee

W/Op/Air/Gnr: Sgt. L.A. Boisvert R/77431 RCAF Slightly injured - fractured collar bone and severe shock

W/Op/Air/Gnr (Air/Bmr): Sgt. Calvin Daniel Dixon R/82839 RCAF Age 26. Uninjured

Air/Gnr: Sgt. S.G. Perks 923945 RAFVR Slightly injured - fractured right elbow and left leg.

Reason For Loss:

At 00:55 hrs on the 27th April 1942, the aircraft was taking off from RAF Defford, a satellite airfield of RAF Pershore, for a night flying training flight, when on opening the throttles for take-off, the port throttle slipped back, due to the throttle clutch not being adjusted tightly enough.

The aircraft swung to port violently off the runway. The pilot managed to check the swing but due to the ground being so rough, the aircraft did not gain sufficient speed. The pilot endeavoured to lift off the aircraft so as to avoid the perimeter fence and became airborne at 65 mph and climbed to 50 feet before stalling. The right wing dropped and the aircraft crashed.

Casualties were removed to the Royal Infirmary, Worcester and next of kin informed.

Fl/Lt. Lindsay Will Munro (Mentioned in Despatches) was later killed whilst serving with 83 Squadron on the 3rd January 1944. Understood to have been involved in a mid air collision - all 14 crew of both aircraft killed. Buried at Berlin 1939-1945 War Cemetery. Grave 8.Z.22. Son of William Fitz James Munro and Jean Munro and husband of Vera Munro of Broadway, Worcestershire, England. He had already completed a full tour with 103 Squadron.

Sgt Calvin Daniel Dixon was later killed whilst serving with 218 Squadron on the 21st August 1942 and is buried at Kiel War Cemetery. Grave 2.J.14. Son of Samuel Jacob and Margaret Florence Dixon of Pendleton, Ontario, Canada.

Researched by Steve Hunnislett for Aircrew Remembered - May 2019. With thanks to Bob Boston for use of the grave photograph of Sgt. Dixon and Uwe for that of Fl/Lt. Munro.

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