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SOE (Special Operations Executive)
Date: 11/12th April 1944 (Tuesday/Wednesday)
Unit No: 190 Squadron, 38 Group, Air Defence Great Britain/Fighter Command (ADGB)
Type: Stirling VI
Serial: LJ822
Code: D
Base: RAF Tarrant Rushton, Dorset
Location: Knighton Farm, Hampreston, near Wimborne, Dorset
Pilot: Flt Sgt. Peter Croudis 415239 RNZAF Age 24. KiA
Flt Eng: Sgt. John Willie Mitchell 1591883 RAFVR Age 31. KiA
Nav: Flt Sgt. Douglas John Sampson 422571 RNZAF Age 24. KiA
Bomb Aimer: Flt Sgt. Leslie Ernest Ziersch 417690 RAAF Age 20. KiA
WOp/Air Gnr: Flt Sgt. Kenneth Stanley Nunn 418459 RAAF Age 20. KiA
Air Gnr (Rear): Fg Off. Robert Stewart Hadley J26622 RCAF Age 19. KiA
Above left to right: Flt Sgt. Sampson, Flt Sgt. Ziersch (from his Service Record), Flt Sgt. Nunn
REASON FOR LOSS:
Stirling LJ822 took off from RAF Fairford, Gloucestershire at 23:42 hrs on a special operation to drop supplies to Resistance fighters in France on the night of 11th/12th April 1944. On take-off the aircraft was seen to swing badly to starboard before climbing away.
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 from which the pilot failed to recover.
At 23:49 hrs the aircraft dived into the ground and disintegrated when it exploded. The reason for the accident was not known and it was deemed that much further evidence would become available
Burial details:
Flt Sgt. Peter Croudis. Brookwood Military Cemetery, Collective grave 24. D. 9-11. Born during 1920 in Westport, Buller, New Zealand. Son of Ashley Bell and of Elizabeth (née Ryan) Croudis of Westport, Nelson. New Zealand.
This was his first operation, previously had 404 hrs flying experience with 35 of these solo on the Stirling.
Sgt. John Willie Mitchell. Brookwood Military Cemetery, Collective grave 24. D. 9-11. Grave Inscription: “DEARLY LOVED”. Born on the 14th June 1913 in Derbyshire. Son of George W. and Gertrude Mitchell. Husband of Marion (née Harwick) Mitchell of Heaton, Bradford, Yorkshire, England.
Flt Sgt. Douglas John Sampson. Brookwood Military Cemetery, Collective grave 24. D. 9-11. Son of Henry Dundas and of Alice Frances (née Clayton) Sampson of Ngaruawahia, Auckland, New Zealand.
Thought to be his first operation, [previously had 343 hrs flying experience.
Flt Sgt. Leslie Ernest Ziersch. Brookwood Military Cemetery, Collective grave 24. D. 9-11. Grave Inscription: "I KNOW THAT MY REDEEMER LIVETH". Born on the 8th December 1923 in Horsham, Victoria. Son of Ernest Ewald and Bertha Magdalene Ziersch of Eudunda, South Australia.
Flt Sgt. Kenneth Stanley Nunn. Brookwood Military Cemetery, Collective grave 24. D. 9-11. Grave Inscription: “HE ANSWERED HIS COUNTRY'S CALL. HIS DUTY NOBLY DONE”. Born on the 28th November 1923 in Snake Valley, Victoria. Son of Leslie and Maude Alice Nunn, of Ballarat, Victoria, Australia.
Fg Off. Robert Stewart Hadley. Brookwood Military Cemetery, Collective grave 24. D. 9-11. Grave Inscription: “HONOR THE BRAVE”. Born on the 13th April 1923 in Haliburton, Ontario. Son of Carl Hilton and Hazel May (née Ellis) Hadley of Point Edward, Ontario, Canada.
His brother L/Cpl. Donald Hilton Hadley B8555 served with the #3 Canadian Infantry Brigade Workshops overseas in the Mediterranean Forces.
Researched by Kelvin Youngs and dedicated to the families of the crew. Thanks to Nicholas Cowell for the image of Flt Sgt. Ziersch. Reviewed and updated by Aircrew Remembered (Dec 2024).
Other sources listed below:
RS 30.12.2024 – Reviewed and updated with new information and photographs
KTY – Initial upload details not known
RS 30.12.2024 – Reviewed and updated with new information and photographs
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