Operation: Fighter Affiliation Exercise

Date: 14th July 1945 (Saturday)

Unit: No. 460 Squadron

Type: Lancaster I

Serial: NG404

Code: AR-H

Base: RAF Binbrook

Location: Gainthope Road, Kirton In Lindsey

Pilot: Fl/Lt. Murray Caunter Nottle AUS/436360 RAAF Age 23. Baled out - survived

Fl/Eng: P/O. Carl Edwin Johnson AUS/433171 RAAF Age 22. Killed

Nav: F/O. William James Morrow AUS/429727 RAAF Age 23. Baled out - survived

Air/Bmr: W/O. Kevin Bernard Quinn AUS/430318 RAAF Age 22. Killed

W/Op/Air/Gnr: Fl/Sgt. Ronald Keith Sloan AUS/437799 RAAF Age 22. Baled out - survived

Air/Gnr: Fl/Sgt. Roy John Rogers AUS/55854 RAAF Age 23. Baled out - drowned

REASON FOR LOSS:

Taking part in a Fighter Affiliation and bombing Exercise - during the training sortie a photoflash bomb, which had hung up in the bomb bay, ignited causing a major fire in the aircraft. Four members of the crew managed to bale out prior to the aircraft crashing near the Cement works on Gainsthope Road close to Kirton In Lindsey. The fire intensified on impact and the aircraft was totally burnt out.

Sadly, Fl/Sgt. Roy Rogers landed in a flooded quarry and drowned. The remaining 3 crew landed safely with no reported injuries.

Following the incident it was discovered that the bomb that had ignited had hung up on a previous sortie and failed to be reported. The bomb aimer knew he had 7 bombs on board rather than the authorised 6 but failed to check for hang ups after the bombing phase. The safety officer also failed in his duties in that he had not briefed crews fully on safety drills and that the crew were not wearing Mae West life jackets for the operation.

Burial details:

P/O. Carl Edwin Johnson. Cambridge City Cemetery. Grave 15705. Born on the 25th June 1923 at Waverley, NSW, the son of Carl Ellis Johnson and Catherine May Johnson of Randwick, New South Wales, Australia. Epitaph reads: “His Duty Fearlessly And Nobly Done. Ever Remembered.”

W/O. Kevin Bernard Quinn. Cambridge City Cemetery. Grave 15703. Born on the 21st January 1923 at Melbourne, Victoria, the son of Thomas James Quinn and Eileen Olivia Quinn, of South Yarra, Victoria, Australia. Epitaph reads: “Sweet Sacred Heart Of Jesus Have Mercy On His Soul R.I.P.”

Fl/Sgt. Roy John Rogers. Cambridge City Cemetery. Grave 15704. Born on the 05th November 1921 at Colburg, Victoria, the son of Charles John and Selina Rogers, of Yarra Junction, Victoria, Australia. Epitaph reads: “His Duty Fearlessly And Nobly Done. Ever Remembered. Our Pal”.

Researched and dedicated to the relatives of this crew with thanks to sources as shown. Also to Len, for grave photographs. With thanks to Roy Bell for advising us of correct name of base - May 2018.

At the going down of the sun, and in the morning we will remember them. - Laurence Binyon
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