Operation: Gardening ‘Jasmine region’, Baltic

Date: 8th/9th December 1942 (Tuesday/Wednesday)

Unit No: 149 (East India) Squadron, 3 Group, Bomber Command

Type: Stirling I

Serial: W7639

Code: OJ:Q

Base: RAF Lakenheath, Suffolk.

Location: Brandon, Suffolk.

Pilot: Plt Off. John Philp BEM, 133028 RAFVR Age 36. KiA (1)

Flt Eng: Sgt. William Stanley Hughes 570930 RAF Age 22. KiA

Nav: Flt Sgt. George Edward Hills 1258086 RAFVR Age 31. KiA

Bomb Aimer: Plt Off. Christopher William Higgins 134511 RAFVR Age 20. KiA

WOp/Air Gnr: Sgt. Frank Craven 1185176 RAFVR Age 25. KiA (2)

Air Gnr (Mid Upp): Flt Sgt. Thomas Harold ‘Tommy’ Harris 1201186 RAFVR Age 23. KiA (3)

Air Gnr (Rear): Flt Sgt. Thomas Glenville Williams 545642 RAF Age 24. KiA

Above. Crew and groundcrew posing in front of Stirling I W7639. Flt Sgt. Thomas ‘Tommy’ H. Harris is standing 2nd from the right. (Photograph Courtesy of Anna Richards)

The other airmen are a mix of aircrew and groundcrew who have yet to be identified.

REASON FOR LOSS:

Took off at 16:34 hrs for a mining operation in the Jasmine region in the Baltic off Waremënde. The pilot experienced technical difficulties and during the return flight the aircraft crashed at Fenhouse Farm, Brandon in Suffolk at 21:35 hrs. No further details are available as yet.

(1) Plt Off. Philp was awarded the British Empire Medal (BEM) earlier in September when the Stirling I BF334 OJ:R of which he was the pilot suffered engine failure and was were forced to ditch. He and another crew member towed the severely injured Sgt. Frederick King as they swam ashore. Sgt. King had unfortunately died during their 4 hour swim before they were finally picked up by a small fishing boat.

(2) Sgt. Frank Craven was a former pupil of Moseley Grammar school (Now secondary/grammar school). We are working very closely with the school's historians to remember all the ex pupils who died whilst serving with the RAF and recorded on the school memorial.

(3) At the time of his death Flt Sgt. Harris’ girlfriend Doreen ‘Dawn’ Nurding was serving in the Women’s Auxiliary Air Force (WAAF).

Doreen ‘Dawn’ Nurding is 3rd from the right in the middle row – Believed to be at RAF Chedburgh in Suffolk where 620 Sqn was stationed. (Photograph Courtesy of Anna Richards)

Burial details:

Plt Off. John Philp BEM. Beck Row Churchyard, Row C. Grave 11. Born on the 30th August 1907 in Dunfermline, Flintshire. Son of Peter and Mary Flora (née Macaulay) Philp. Husband of Victoria Melita (née Hicks) Philp of Southsea, Hampshire, England.

Sgt. William Stanley Hughes. Beck Row Churchyard. Row C. Grave 12. Born in February 1920 in Birkenhead, Merseyside. Son of Thomas Stanley and Jessie Duncan (née Bush) Hughes of Liverpool, England.

Flt Sgt. George Edward Hills. Woolwich Cemetery, Sec 3. Grave 395. Born on the 29th December 1910 in Charlton, Kent. Son of Sydney Albert and Elizabeth Margaret (née Kendrick) Hills of Woolwich, England.

Plt Off. Christopher William Higgins. Sheffield RC Cemetery, Sec. GR. Grave 235. Born on the 20th June 1922 in Sheffield, South Yorkshire. Son of Martin and Kathleen (née O’Malley) Higgins of Sheffield, England.

Sgt. Frank Craven. Birmingham Cemetery, Sec. 15. RC Class B. Grave 2330. Born on the 24th December 1916 in Otley, Yorkshire. Son of Fred and Daisy Elizabeth Margaret Craven. Husband of Dorothy Isabel Anne (née Rose) Craven of Handsworth Wood, Birmingham, Warwickshire, England.

Flt Sgt. Thomas Harold ‘Tommy’ Harris. Rhondda Cemetery, Plot C. Row 3. Grave 33. Born on the 27th November 1919 in Pontypridd, Glamorgan, Wales. Son of William and Catherine Mary (née Phillips) Harris of Tylorstown, Wales.

Flt Sgt. Thomas Glenville Williams. Merthyr Tydfil Cemetery, Uncons. Sec. Row T.6. Grave 42. Born in the 4th Qtr of 1919 in Merthyr Tydfil, Wales. Son of Thomas Henry and Myfanwy (née Joseph) Williams of Cefn Coed, Wales.

Researched by Kelvin Youngs (Webmaster) for the relatives of crew. Information from Aircrew Remembered own archives with additional details from Keith Townsend historian of Moseley Secondary/Grammar school memorial records, Clive Powell (1st cousin twice removed) for photo and details on Flt Sgt. Thomas Harold Harris (Apr 2017). Thanks to Anna Richards, whose Great Aunt was Doreen Nurding, for the crew and WAAF photographs (May 2025). Other updates by Aircrew Remembered (May 2025).

Other sources listed below:

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