Operation: Fighter affiliation

Date: 11th March 1945 (Sunday)

Unit No: 1690 Bomber (Defence) Training Flight, 5 Group/ 463 Sqn, 5 Group, Bomber Command

Type: Hurricane IIC/ Lancaster I

Serial: PZ740/LM130 “Nick the Nazi Neutralizer"

Code: P9:M/JO:N

Base: RAF Metheringham, Lincolnshire/RAF Waddington, Lincolnshire

Location: Ashholt Field at Blankney village

Hurricane:

Pilot: Fg Off. Sidney Frederick Parlato DFC, 415778 RNZAF Age 34. Killed

Lancaster:

Pilot: Plt Off. Norman Henry Orchard 419136 RAAF Age 20. Killed.

Flt Eng: Flt Sgt. Reginald Frederick Neale 1386352 RAFVR Age 23. Killed.

Nav: Sgt. David Arthur Charles 1653100 RAFVR Age 24. Killed

Bomb Aimer: Sgt. Harold Rollins 1588200 RAFVR Age 32. Killed.

WOp/Air Gnr: Sgt. William Frederick Henry Elcome 1891920 RAFVR Age 21. Killed.

Air Gnr (Mid Upper): Sgt. Bernard John Patch 1812236 RAFVR Age 21. Killed.

Air Gnr (Rear): Sgt. Harold Shaw 1811658 RAFVR Age 20. Killed.

REASON FOR LOSS:

Fighter Affiliation exercise at night. The Hurricane, flown by Fg Off. Parlato DFC took off at around 20:45. At 21:00 during an overtaking manoeuvre he then collided mid-air with Lancaster LM130 from 463 squadron. Both he and the crew of the Lancaster were killed.

The air accident report stated that visibility was about 3 miles with no cloud. It also stated that both aircraft had no technical defects. Both aircraft suffered fire damage when hitting the ground.

A memorial to both crews was erected near the crash site at Ash Holt Wood, Blankney, by family members of the crew on 23rd September 2014. (see credits)

Burial details:

Those buried at the Cambridge City Cemetery were laid to rest during a service on the 16th March 1945 at 16:30 hrs.

Fg Off. Sidney Frederick Parlato DFC. Cambridge City Cemetery, Grave 15368. Born on the 30th January 1911 at Taikorea. Son of Ernest and Alma Parlato. Husband of Phyllis May (née Edwards) Parlato of Palmerston North, Wellington, New Zealand.

Plt Off. Parlato was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC) whilst with 627 Sqn. London Gazette 19th September 1944.

A total of 837 flying hours logged with 172 on the Hurricane. 56 operations served previously with the Path Finder Force in 139 squadron.

Lancaster:

Plt Off. Norman Henry Orchard. Cambridge City Cemetery, Grave 15369. Grave inscription: "GREATER LOVE HATH NO MAN THAN THIS" EVER REMEMBERED". Born on the 6th July 1924 in Geelong, Victoria. Son of Stanley Edwin and Annie Cecilia Orchard of Denman Street, Geelong, Victoria, Australia.

Flt Sgt. Reginald Frederick Neale. Cambridge City, Grave 15366. Grave inscription: "A NOBLE HERO TRUE AND BRAVE PEACEFULLY SLEEPS IN AN AIRMAN'S GRAVE R.I.P". Son of Lily Neale; Grandson of Mrs. B. Neale of Welling, Kent, England.

Sgt. David Arthur Charles. Llanelli (Old Road) Cemetery. Living at Gilbert Crescent, Llanelli, Wales. No further information found.

Sgt. Harold Rollins. Leigh Cemetery, Sec. 36. Grave Q.8. Grave inscription: "FOR LIBERTY AND TRUTH HE SACRIFICED HIS GLORIOUS YOUTH". Born on the 1st March 1913 in Australia. Husband of Mary (née Lowe) Rollins of Leigh, Lancashire, England.

Sgt. William Frederick Henry Elcome. Cambridge City Cemetery, Grave 15370. Grave inscription: "AS THE FLOWER OF THE GRASS HE SHALL PASS AWAY JAMES 1.10 AND ISAIAH 40.6-7". Son of William and Mildred Elcome; Nephew of Mr. W. H. Brown, of Walworth, London.

Sgt. Bernard John Patch. Cambridge City Cemetery, Grave 15367. Born in 2nd Qtr of 1915 in Portsmouth, Hampshire. Son of Ernest and Ethel Elizabeth (née Boucher deceased in June 1933) Patch of Berkshire, England.

Sgt. Harold Shaw. Heckmondwike Cemetery. Gen. Sec. L. Grave 11. Grave inscription: "TREASURED MEMORIES OF OUR DEAR SON. SOME TIME WE'LL UNDERSTAND" . Son of Vernon and Mary Jane (née Popplewell) Shaw of Heckmondwike, Yorkshire, England.

Researched by Kelvin Youngs (Webmaster) and dedicated to the relatives of these aircrew. With thanks to Stephen Farnell for photo of Sgt Charles, AWM for Lancaster photo, Richard Flagg for memorial photo and to the extensive research by Errol Martyn and his publications: “For Your Tomorrow Vols. 1-3”, Auckland Library Heritage Collection,Weekly News of New Zealand (Dec 2020). Reviewed and updated by Aircrew Remembered with thanks to Antonio McDonald for the code for the Hurricane (May 2025).

Other sources listed below:

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