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Operation: SOE (Special Operations Executive)
Date: 11/12th April 1944 (Tuesday/Wednesday)
Unit: Attached to No. 190 Squadron (38 Group)
Type: Stirling IV
Serial: LJ822
Code: D
Base: RAF Tarrant Rushton, Dorset.
Location: Knighton Farm, Hampreston, near Wimborne, Dorset
Pilot: Fl/Sgt. Peter Croudis NZ/415239 RNZAF Age 24. Killed
Fl/Eng: Sgt. John Willie Mitchell 1591883 RAFVR Age 31. Killed
Nav: Fl/Sgt. Douglas John Sampson NZ/422571 RNZAF Age 24. Killed
Air/Bmr: Fl/Sgt. Leslie Ernest Ziersch AUS/417690 RAAF Age 20. Killed
W/Op/Air/Gnr: Fl/Sgt. Kenneth Stanley Nunn AUS/418459 RAAF Age 20. Killed
Air/Gnr: F/O. Robert Stewart Hadley J/26622 RCAF Age 19. Killed
REASON FOR LOSS:
Stirling LJ822 took off from RAF Fairford, Gloucestershire at 23:42 hrs on a special operation to France (supply drop to the resistance fighters) on the night of 11/12th April 1944, detailed to carry out a special operations night flight. On take off the aircraft was seen to swing badly to starboard before climbing away.
The aircraft crashed just six minutes later at Knighton Farm, Hampreston, near Wimborne, Dorset, killing all the crew. The aircraft dived into the ground, bursting into flames on impact.The subsequent court of enquiry reported that the heavily loaded aircraft had started a turn at too low a speed, stalled and entered into a spin which the pilot failed to recover from. Sadly, air accident investigations (early days for this type of investigation) were very quick to place blame on aircrew error, if no other factors were apparent.Burial details:Fl/Sgt. Peter Croudis. Brookwood Military Cemetery Coll. grave 24. D. 9-11. Son of Ashley Bell Croudis and of Elizabeth Croudis (née Ryan), of Westport, Nelson. New Zealand. This was his first operation, perviously had 404 hrs flying experience with 35 of these solo on the Stirling.
Sgt. John Willie Mitchell. Brookwood Military Cemetery Coll. grave 24. D. 9-11. Son of George W. Mitchell and Gertrude Mitchell, husband of Marion Mitchell, of Heaton, Bradford, Yorkshire, England.
Fl/Sgt. Douglas John Sampson. Brookwood Military Cemetery Coll. grave 24. D. 9-11. Son of Henry Dundas Sampson and of Alice Frances Sampson (née Clayton), of Ngaruawahia, Auckland, New Zealand. Thought to be his first operation. 343 hrs experience flying.
Fl/Sgt. Leslie Ernest Ziersch. Brookwood Military Cemetery Coll. grave 24. D. 9-11. Son of Ernest Ewald and Bertha Magdalene Ziersch, of Eudunda, South Australia.
Fl/Sgt. Kenneth Stanley Nunn. Brookwood Military Cemetery Coll. grave 24. D. 9-11. Son of Leslie and Maude Alice Nunn, of Ballarat, Victoria Australia.
F/O. Robert Stewart Hadley. Brookwood Military Cemetery Coll. grave 24. D. 9-11. Son of Karl H. Hadley and Hazel M. Hadley, of Point Edward, Ontario, Canada.
Acknowledgments/Sources: AWM 237 (65) NAA : A705, 166,45,48 Micro Film No 463 OAFH - plus sources quoted below.
At the going down of the sun, and in the morning we will remember
them. - Laurence
Binyon
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