Operation: Ground accident

Date: 31st October 1942 (Saturday)

Unit No: 88 Squadron

Type: Boston III

Serial: W8297

Code: RH:?

Base: RAF Oulton, Norfolk

Location: At base - Norfolk

Ground crew lost:

LAC. Francis Frederick Packard 1403000 RAFVR Age 21. Killed

LAC. Archibald Torrance 1365831 RAFVR Age 24. Killed

AC1. Edward John Bone 1449150 RAFVR Age 31. Killed

AC2. Harry Bramham 1217973 RAFVR Age 21. Killed

AC2. Arnold Clifford Emery 1313486 RAFVR Age 29. Killed

AC2. Kenneth Frederick Fowler 1450295 RAFVR Age 19. Killed

Thousands of both aircrew and ground crew were killed during WW2 - most are never commemorated anywhere. We aim to address this and invite relatives of airman/women killed during such tragedies to contact us.

REASON FOR LOSS:

During, what has been classed as the worst accident on a RAF base in Norfolk of WW2, the ground crew were unloading 250 lb bombs that had been brought back from an operation from a Boston of 88 Squadron.

No further details, but a massive explosion took place - killing 6 ground crew and destroying the Boston.

Burial details:

LAC. Francis Frederick Packard. Erith (Brook Street) Cemetery, Sec L. Grave 388. Grave Inscription: ‘GONE FROM US BUT NOT FORGOTTEN NEVER SHALL THY MEMORY FADE’. Born on the 4th December 1920 in Dartford, Kent. Son of Joseph and Rose Mary Ann (née Farmer) Packard of Belvedere, London, England.

LAC. Archibald Torrance. Rutherglen Cemetery, Div. S. Grave 267. Grave Inscription: ‘TO THE UNDYING MEMORY OF MY BELOVED HUSBAND. PARTING WON'T LAST FOR EVER’. Born during 1918 in Glasgow, Lanarkshire. Son of Daniel Stevenson and Annie Bell Torrance of Glasgow. Husband of Helen Jane Milligan (née Hill) Torrance of Glasgow, Scotland.

AC1. Edward John Bone. Norton-In-The-Moors (St. Bartholomew) Churchyard, Grave 117. Husband of Frieda May (née Lovatt) Bone of Norton-In-The-Moors, Staffordshire, England.

AC2. Harry Bramham. Rotherham (Moorgate) Cemetery, Sec. K. 3rd New. Grave 287. Grave Inscription: ‘LOVED BY ALL’. Born on the 30th December 1920 in Rotherham, Yorkshire. Son of Leonard James and Doris Abigail Bramham of Rotherham, Yorkshire, England.

AC2. Arnold Clifford Emery. Romsey Cemetery, Sec. U. Grave 56. Grave Inscription: ‘SADLY MISSED BY ALL WHO LOVED HIM. WE WILL ALWAYS REMEMBER HIM SMILING’. Born on the 7th August 1913 in Romsey, Hampshire. Son of Harry Vernon and Susan Agnes (née Longman) Emery of Romsey. Husband of Ivy Myrtle (née Groves) Emery of West Wellow, Wiltshire, England.

AC2. Kenneth Frederick Fowler. Wymondham Cemetery. Sec 3. Grave 465. Son of Frederick Alomis and Rose Gwendoline (née Peacock) Fowler of Wymondham, Norfolk, England.

Researched and dedicated to the relatives of this crew. Aircrew Remembered own Archives. Reviewed and updated by Aircrew Remembered (Jun 2025).

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