Operation: Transit Flight

Date: 06th February 1945 (Tuesday)

Unit: No. 575 Squadron (motto: \The air is our path'). 46 Group

Type: Dakota III

Serial: KG630

Code: I9-?

Base: RAF Broadwell, Oxfordshire

Location: Hunters Burgh,

Pilot: P/O. Peter Matthew Oleinikoff Aus/425544 RAAF Age 34. Killed

Pilot: Fl/Sgt. Edgar Alan Barsby Aus/434121 RAAF Age 20. Killed

Obs: F/O. Kenneth Gilbert Forseth J/42721 RCAF Age 22. Killed

W/Op/Air/Gnr: Fl/Sgt. Ronald Arthur Brock R/218221 Age 21. Killed

Passengers:

LAC. Frank Bainbridge 1045758 RAFVR Age 24. Killed

LAC. Ronald Grayham Baldry 1724979 RAGVR Age 21. Killed

LAC. Samuel Arthur Bamber 1019395 RAFVR Age 30. Killed

Cpl. William George Blair NZ/411154 RNZAF Age 23. Killed

Cpl. Edwin Bruce Chadd MiD 1194880 RAFVR Age 38. Killed

Cpl. David Cooper 641383 RAF Age 24. Killed

F/O. Edward William Curtis 158453 RAFVR Age 40. Killed

LAC. William Daniel Davies 1470528 RAFVR Age 44. Killed

LAC. Thomas Henry Floody 1542307 RAFVR Age 23 Killed

Cpl. Colin Gibson 1515987 RAFVR Age 21. Killed

Cpl. Gerald Ernest Nelson Ronald Lee 1258189 RAFVR Age 33. Killed

LAC. Jack Neale 1880131 RAFVR Age 35. Killed

LAC. Woolf Nerden 1440455 RAFVR Age 23. Killed

P/O. Colin Alexander Rattray 189155 RAFVR Age 22. Killed

LAC. Sydney MacKenzie Smith R/167365 RCAF Age 23. Killed

LAC. Robert Smith 1531489 RAFVR Age 23. Killed

LAC. George Stevens 1435018 RAFVR Age ? Killed

LAC. Albert Edward Dowler Wilkes 1577928 RAFVR Age 35. Killed

LAC. George Wilson 1480091 RAFVR Age 22. Killed

REASON FOR LOSS:

Taking off from RAF Thorney at 09:35 hrs. to move 487 Squadron personnel and materials to the advanced base B87, Rosieres-en-Santerre in France.

30 minutes into the flight in low cloud at 500 ft. flew into the side of a hill known as Hunters Burgh a prehistoric site which ripped off the starboard wing.

The aircraft then crashed into words at the base. KG630 caught fire and all 19 passengers and 4 crew were killed.

Mr. F. Dinnis, a farmer, who was in a field only half a mile away, heard the engines stop suddenly. Guessing a machine had crashed, he ran to the scene with two farm labourers. None of the three could get anywhere near the fiercely blazing aircraft. Civil Defence members, N.F.S. and ambulances had to use a cart track to reach the spot.

Burial details:

P/O. Peter Matthew Oleinikoff. Brookwood Military Cemetery. Grave 25.E.7A. Born on the 05th October 1910 at Suchon, Siberia. Emigrated to Australia in 1912. Worked in the Mount Isa mines as a labourer prior to service. Enlisted on the 28th March 1942. Son of Mathew (Matjeus) and Doris Oleinikoff of Boundary Street, Brisbane. Australia and husband of Margaret Mary Oleinikoff, parents to 7 children, of 10 Baldwin, 3 Gufner Street, Paddington, New South Wales, Australia. Grave inscription: 'Ever Remembered'.

Fl/Sgt. Edgar Alan Barsby. Brookwood Military Cemetery. Grave 25.E.9A. Born on the 02nd July 1924 at Brisbane. Worked as a clerk prior to service. Enlisted on the 15th October 1942. Pilots badge awarded on the 21st October 1943 and promoted to sergeant. Embarked for England on the 17th November 1943. Son of Edgar Barsby and Olivia Vance Barsby, of Alderley, Queensland, Australia. Grave inscription: 'Greater Love Hath No Man'.

F/O. Kenneth Gilbert Forseth. Brookwood Military Cemetery. Grave 25.E.10-16. Born on the 23rd October 1922 at Macoun. Enlisted on the 15th October 1940 at Regina. Son of Harry Gilbert and Emma Jensina Forseth (nee Kjeldsen), of Kingsford, Saskatchewan, Canada. Grave inscription: 'Dearly Beloved Son Of Harry And Emma Forseth. He Died That We Might Live'.

Fl/Sgt. Ronald Arthur Brock. Brookwood Military Cemetery. Grave 56.G.7. Born on the 13th August 1923 at Prince Albert. Enlisted on the 20th April 1943 at Saskatoon. Son of George Edward and Anna Brock (nee Simon) Prince Albert, Saskatchewan, Canada.

LAC. Frank Bainbridge. Brookwood Military Cemetery. Grave 25.E.10-16. Son of George Haselhurst Bainbridge and Sally Bainbridge; husband of Evelena Bainbridge, of Goole, Yorkshire. Grave inscription: 'Treasured Memories Of Frank, Dearly Loved And Devoted Husband Of Evelena'.

LAC. Ronald Grayham Baldry. Brookwood Military Cemetery. Grave 25.E.10-16. Son of Herbert S. K. Baldry and Olive May Baldry, of Bury St. Edmunds, Suffolk. Grave inscription: 'In Loving Memory Of Our Only Darling Son And Brother. Mum, Dad And Doreen'.

LAC. Samuel Arthur Bamber. Brookwood Military Cemetery. Grave 25.E.8. Son of Samuel Bamber, and of Florence Bamber, of Birkenhead. Grave inscription: 'Loves Sweet Memory Across The Years Will Come To Me Heartbroken Mother'.

Cpl. William George Blair. Brookwood Military Cemetery. Grave 25.E.10-16. Born on the 08th June 1921 at Auckland. Worked as a Fitter and Turner for H. Barney Ltd prior to service. Enlisted on the 19th February 1941 at Wigram. Embarked for England on the 27th October 1941. Son of William Morton Blair and Mary Jane Blair, of Point Chevalier, Auckland, New Zealand.

Cpl. Edwin Bruce Chadd. MiD. Brookwood Military Cemetery. Grave 25.E.10-16. Son of Edwin George and Mabel Annie Chadd; husband of Marion Joan Chadd, of Alveley, Shropshire. Grave inscription: 'Thoughts Move Back To Bygone Days Life Moves On But Memory Stays'.

Cpl. David Cooper. Brookwood Military Cemetery. Grave 25.E.10-16. Son of David and Eliza Cooper; husband of Eileen May Cooper, of Stapleford, Nottinghamshire. Grave inscription: 'At The Going Down Of The Sun And In The Morning We Will Remember Them'.

F/O. Edward William Curtis. Brookwood Military Cemetery. Grave 25.E.7. Son of Edward and Grace Curtis; husband of Agnes Evelyn Curtis, of Old Coulsdon, Surrey. Grave inscription: 'Until We Meet'.

LAC. William Daniel Davies. Brookwood Military Cemetery. Grave 25.E.10-16. Son of Thomas Jones Davies and Martha Davies, of Penydarren, Merthyr Tydfil, Glamorgan. Grave inscription: 'At The Going Down Of The Sun And In The Morning We Will Remember Them'.

LAC. Thomas Henry Floody. Brookwood Military Cemetery. Grave 25.E.10-16. Son of Denis and Susan Floody, of Newcastle-on-Tyne; husband of Hilda Floody, of Byker, Newcastle-on-Tyne. Grave inscription: 'In Memory He Is Always Near To Those Who Loved Him Very Dear. R.I.P'.

Cpl. Colin Gibson. Brookwood Military Cemetery. Grave 25.E.10-16. Son of Herbert Colin and Dorothy Dixon Gibson, of Harrogate, Yorkshire. Grave inscription: 'His Memory Is Our Greatest Treasure. In Our Hearts He Will Live For Ever'.

Cpl. Gerald Ernest Nelson Ronald Lee. Brookwood Military Cemetery. Grave 25.E.9. Son of Ernest Edward and Daisy Lee; husband of Eve M. Lee, of Anerley, Kent. Grave inscription: 'Beloved Husband Of Eve And Dear Daddy Of Anita And Sandra. For Ever In Our Hearts'.

LAC. Jack Neale. Brookwood Military Cemetery. Grave 25.E.10-16. Son of George and Maud Neale, of Baildon, Yorkshire; husband of Evelyn Phyllis Constance Gwenydd Neale, of Baildon. Grave inscription: 'Happy Memories Of A Loving Husband, Father And Son Ever In Our Thoughts'.

LAC. Woolf Nerden. East Ham Jewish Cemetery (Marlow Road). Block U. Grave 29. born on the 01st December 1921 in Poplar, London. Worked in his fathers bedding manufacturer business prior to service. Son of John and Hannah Nerden (nee Hirsch), of 2 British Street, Bow, London. Brother of Joseph and Phillip. Grave inscription: 'Deeply Mourned By Parents, Brothers And Relatives. Remembered By All'.

P/O. Colin Alexander Rattray. Forfar Cemetery. Compt. O. Sq. 33. Grave 183. Son of Alexander Hill Rattray (passed away 09th February 1947 age 64) and Norah Margaret Rattray (passed away 0n the 06th November 1957 age 73) (nee Stewart), of Forfar and husband of Elsie Beatrice Rattray, of Southport, Lancashire.

LAC. Sydney MacKenzie Smith. Brookwood Military Cemetery. Grave 25.G.8. Born on the 22nd July 1921 in Montreal. Enlisted in April 1942. A radar mechanic. Son of Mr. and Mrs. Smith of 348 Prince Edward Drive, Kingsway, Toronto, Canada.

LAC. Robert Smith. Brookwood Military Cemetery. Grave 25.E.10-16. Son of Robert and Elizabeth Smith, of Seaham, Co. Durham. Grave inscription: 'O Lord Hear My Prayer And Let My Cry Come Unto Thee'.

LAC. George Stevens. Brookwood Military Cemetery. Grave 25.E.8. No further information, are you able to assist?

LAC. Albert Edward Dowler Wilkes. Brookwood Military Cemetery. Grave 25.E.10-16. Son of William and Charlotte Elizabeth Wilkes and husband of Elizabeth Annie Wilkes, of East Wednesbury, Staffordshire. Grave inscription: 'In Loving Memory Of Albert A Dear Husband And Dad'.

LAC. George Wilson. Brookwood Military Cemetery. Grave 25.E.10-16. Son of James Arthur and Alice Wilson, of Hull. Grave inscription: '

Researched and dedicated to the relatives of this crew and passengers with thanks to Jenifer Lemaire and to the extensive research by Errol Martyn and his publications: “For Your Tomorrow Vols. 1-3”, Jews of the RAF, Auckland Library Heritage Collection, NAA, The Megalithic Portal, Sussex History Forum, other sources as quoted below:

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