Operation: Operation Plainfare

Date: 22nd March 1949 (Tuesday)

Unit: No. 24 Squadron ('In omnia parati' - Prepared for all things/Ready for anything)

Type: Dakota C.IV

Serial: KJ970

Code: Not known

Base:RAF Oakington

Location: Lübec, Germany

Pilot: Fl/Lt. Mel Joseph Quinn AUS/412688 RAAF Age 26. Killed

Nav: F/O. Kenneth Arthur Reeves 59342 SAAF Age 29. Killed

Sig: M/Sig. Alan Penny AFC. 552860 RAF Age 26. Seriously injured

REASON FOR LOSS:

The pilot had previously served with 453 Squadron as a Spitfire fighter pilot during the war.

The crew were taking part in 'Operation Plainfare' or as more commonly known as the 'Berlin Airlift'. They had delivered their much needed supplies to RAF Gatow in Berlin and were returning with another load but of unknown description.

The weather had deteriorated for their return trip - low cloud and greatly reduced visibility. Three aircraft were on this trip and each pilot were instructed to make a BABS approach into the airfield (Blind Approach Beam System) - a radar guided approach. The pilot experienced problems with this and it is thought that he had perhaps been blinded by the sodium lights, but no definitive cause of the crash was determined.

The Dakota during second attempt to land crashed some 3 KM. south-east of the airfield at Lübec at around 22:15 hrs.

M/Sig. Alan Penny succumbed to his injuries a few hours later.

Burial details:

Fl/Lt. Mel Joseph Quinn. Ohlsdorf Military Cemetery Plot XI. Row B. Grave 9. Born on the 18th June 1922 at West Maitland, New South Wales. Enlisted in July 1941. Husband of Margaret Irene Quinn. Son of Mr. Matthew Joseph (Dec) and Mary Quinn Surfside Avenue, Clovelly, Sydney, Australia. His brother, W/Cdr. Noel Thomas Quinn (A622) also served and received the DFC. and two bars, he retired as an Air Commodore. Noel died of cancer on the 13th October 1985 at St Lucia, and was cremated.

We assume that fellow crew members are also buried there - perhaps you are in a position to advise?

F/O. Kenneth Arthur Reeves. Ohlsdorf Military Cemetery, 1.B.7. Born on the 5th January 1920. Of Johannesburg, South Africa. No further information found - are you able to assist?

M/Sig. Alan Penny AFC. Ohlsdorf Military Cemetery, 1.B.7 Born on the 27th April 1922, Husband to Elsie May Penny. The Air Force Cross (AFC) was awarded the 9th June 1949 (London Gazette, 9th June 1949). No further information found - are you able to assist?

Researched and dedicated to the relatives of this crew with thanks to sources indicated below. Thanks to Ralph Snape for further details - July 2024.

At the going down of the sun, and in the morning we will remember them. - Laurence Binyon
All site material (except as noted elsewhere) is owned or managed by Aircrew Remembered and should not be used without prior permission.
© Aircrew Remembered 2012 - 2024 Last Modified: 26 July 2024, 09:17