Operation: Familiarisation Flight

Date: 22nd April 1944 (Saturday)

Unit: No. 1407 Meteorological Flight - Coastal Command

Type: Ventura I L-18

Serial: AE806

Code: AD-?

Base: Reykjavik, Iceland

Location: At Reykjavik airfield

Pilot: W/O 1. Kenny Weeks Norfolk R/78691 RCAF Age 27. Killed

Pilot: F/O. John Alec Banks 132591 RAFVR Age 21. Killed

W/Op/Air/Gnr: W/O. Norman George Hickmott NZ/412880 RNZAF Age 27. Killed

Air/Gnr: W/O. Trevor Clifford Hosken RNZAF Age 23. Killed

REASON FOR LOSS:

Taking off shortly after 10:50 hrs. with W/O. Norfolk as pilot.

Very shortly afterwards when at 150 feet a severe loss of power developed forcing a landing. The Ventura crashed and burst into flames killing all four crew.

Burial details:

W/O 1. Kenny Weeks Norfolk. Reykjavik Cemetery (Fossvogur) Grave C48. 14. Born on the 9th June 1917 in London, Ontario. Worked as clerk for the Dominion Bank prior to service. The son of William Joseph and Eva Muriel Norfolk (née Menhennick), of London, Ontario, Canada. Grave inscription: 'He Loved Greatly And Was Greatly Loved'.

F/O. John Alec Banks. Reykjavik Cemetery (Fossvogur) Grave C48. 17. Son of the Revd. Leslie Cawse Banks and Gertrude Constance Banks, of Richmond Hill, Surrey. Grave inscription: 'A Good Son And A Good Citizen'.

W/O. Norman George Hickmott. Reykjavik Cemetery (Fossvogur) Grave C48. 15. Born on the 14th July 1916 at Collingwood. Before enlisting at Levin on the 07th June 1941 worked as a driver for E.E and E Wadsworth Ltd. Son of John Charles and Alice Jane Hickmott (née Clear), of Aorere, Nelson, New Zealand. A total of 459 flying hours logged and completed 6 operational sorties.

W/O. Trevor Clifford Hosken. Reykjavik Cemetery (Fossvogur) Grave C48. 16. Born on the 04th March 1921 at Auckland. Worked as a clerk for A.J. Entrican, Sims Ltd prior to enlisting on 03rd August 1941 at Levin. Son of Joseph Thomas Hosken and of Gladys Florence Louisa Hosken (née Wilson), of Auckland City, New Zealand. A total of 499 flying hours logged and completed 5 operational sorties.

Researched and dedicated to the relatives of this pilot 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, Operation PictureMe, other sources as quoted below:

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