Operation: Training

Date: 7th November 1943 (Sunday)

Unit No: 3 (Coastal) Operational Training Unit (3(C)OTU), Coastal Command

Type: Wellington XlV

Serial: MP615

Base: RAF Haverfordwest, Wales

Location: At base - RAF Haverfordwest.

Pilot: Plt Off. P.J. Bernier C22664 RCAF Age? Injured

Pilot (Instructor): Flt Lt. Robert Edward Hamilton Northridge 113764 RAFVR Age 30. Killed

Navigator: Sgt. A.J. Henderson R106947 RCAF Age? Injured

W/Op/Air Gnr: Flt Sgt. R.J. Brunner R131492 RCAF Age? Seriously Injured

W/Op/Air Gnr: Fg Off. Donald Marvin Thew J22086 RCAF Age 21. Killed

W/Op/Air Gnr: WO2. John Ashwood R129078 RCAF Age 20. Killed

REASON FOR LOSS:

Wellington XIV, HE150, from 304 (Polish) Squadron had taken off at 18.55 hrs from RAF Davidstow Moor on a Leigh Light training exercise had been forced to make an emergency landing at RAF Haverfordwest. It had already attempted a landing but had overshot so had gone round again.

MP615 was waiting near the intersection of runways awaiting permission to cross the runway in use when without previous warning Wellington MF150 landed with its port propeller feather, bounced and swung of the runway to starboard colliding with MP615 which ignited immediately becoming a total loss.

Both aircraft were destroyed in the fire that followed although all the Polish crew managed to escape, pilots Flt Lt. Alfred Kasprzyk P-1327 and Sgt. Karol Jan Polanin P-2673 and the Observer. Flt Lt. Tadeusz Kolodziejski P-1248.

Above: Flt Lt. Alfred Kasprzyk, Sgt. Karol Jan Polanin and Flt Lt. Tadeusz Kolodziejski.

The blame was placed at both the Traffic controller for not giving the Polish crew a 'Red' at their second attempt and to the pilots of the 304 Squadron for allowing aircraft to drift and that a 'Green' was not showing the second time around - disciplinary action was recommended. - It is not known what happened regarding this.

Above: Fg Off. Donald Marvin Thew.

Above: WO2 John Ashwood (from his Service record)

Burial details:

Flt Lt. Robert Edward Hamilton Northridge. Haverford West Cemetery. Cons. Row. 1. Grave 8. Grave inscription: 'HE IS NOT DEAD BUT SLEEPETH UNTIL THE DAY BREAK AND THE SHADOWS FLEE AWAY'. Son of the Revd. Robert Northridge, M.A. and Frances Charlotte Ellerker Northridge, of Blackrock, Co. Dublin, Irish Republic. B.A., LL.B. (Trinity College, Dublin).

Fg Off. Donald Marvin Thew. Haverford West Cemetery. Cons. Row. 1. Grave 6. Grave inscription: 'BREATHE ON ME BREATH OF GOD SO I SHALL NEVER DIE BUT BE WITH YOU IN ETERNITY'. Born on the 15th May 1922 in Toledo, Ohio, USA. Son of Charles (deceased) and Alma (née Colgrove) Thew of Detroit, Michigan, USA. He was raised in Detroit and was living in Detroit when he enlisted in RCAF in late 1941. He was born in 1922. Married to Violet Sullivan, a Canadian (originally of King Township, Ontario) in 1942. Married in Guelph, Ontario while in training. His son, Donald Thew was born in Guelph.

WO2 John Ashwood. Haverford West Cemetery. Cons. Row. 1. Grave 7. Grave inscription: 'GREATER LOVE HATH NO MAN; HE GAVE HIS LIFE THAT OTHERS MIGHT LIVE'. Born on the 23rd May 1923 in Toronto. Son of William and Sarah (née Alexander) Ashwood, of Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Researched for Donald Thew, son of Fg Off. Donald Marvin Thew. With thanks for further information supplied by Les Allison and Harry Hayward - 'They Shall Not Grow Old', Ross McNeill for additional information. Reviewed and updated with new information by Aircrew Remembered (Sep 2024)

Other sources listed below:

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