Operation: Training

Date: 24th March 1942 (Tuesday)

Unit: No. 1515 Beam Approach Training Flight (Bomber Command)

Type: Oxford I

Serial: V4137

Code: -

Base: RAF Swanton Morley, Norfolk

Location: Foxley Wood, Foxley, Norfolk

Pilot: Sgt. Stephen Harry Robinson NZ/413545 RNZAF Age 27. Killed

Pilot: Sgt. Ben Johnson DFM 741603 RAFVR Age 24. Killed

REASON FOR LOSS:

Taking off from RAF Swanton Morley on a training flight. Captain of the aircraft was Sgt. Ben Johnson DFM when they were involved in a mid air collision with Oxford I V4063 flown by 27 year old, F/O. Donald McLeod Craik 69492 RAFVR from the same unit.

They collided at 16:00 hrs and crashed at Foxley Wood, Foxley, Norfolk, killing both V4063 crew (20 year old, Sgt. Everard Howard Hawken NZ/411891 being the other pilot)

Both crew of V4137 also lost their lives.

Burial and personal details:

Sgt. Stephen Harry Robinson. Swanton Morley Churchyard (All Saints). Grave 5. Born on the 10th April 1914 at Dunedin. Prior to service worked as a labourer for Dalgety and Company of Dunedin. Enlisted in the RNZAF at Levin on the 15th June 1941. After training at No.1 Flying Training School he was awarded his pilots badge on the 18th October 1941 and promoted to sergeant on the 29th November 1941. Embarked for England on the 18th December 1941. Son Harry and Ethel Robinson (née Curtis), of St. Kilda, Dunedin, Otago, New Zealand. Served with this unit for about a week prior to his loss. A total of 194 flying hours logged. At the time of this accident was on attachment from 15 Pilot Advanced Flying Unit. His brother, Harold George Robinson 48556 served in the 36 Infantry Battalion NZ Army - survived the war died on the 09th March 2012, age 93.

Sgt. Ben Johnson DFM. Cottingham Cemetery. Sec. B. Grave 740. East Riding of Yorkshire. No further details on next of kin, are you able to assist? Completed his tour with 144 Squadron in October 1941. After which he received his DFM. He transferred, being rested from operations to 15 Beam Approach Training Flight. A total of 197 flying hours logged and completed 28 operational sorties.

DFM L.G. 23.12.1941:

For continuous gallantry and devotion to duty during raids into enemy territory. This NCO has proved himself to be an operational pilot of the highest order and has never once, as Captain of aircraft, failed to complete his task successfully. He has never hesitated to go in low if weather conditions were such that he could not be sure of the target from a higher altitude. During August, 1941, he attacked a railway junction at Mannheim in bad weather conditions from a height of 2,500 feet. Two days later, while returning from an operational sortie, he carried out a successful machine-gun attack on Haamstede Aerodrome from a height of 1,000 feet. During September, he attacked the ship building yards at Rostock from a height of 1,200 feet. Sergeant Johnston's record is one of great coolness and exceptional courage in the face of the enemy.

V4063 crew:

F/O. Donald McLeod Craik. Great Bedwyn (St Mary) Churchyard. Wiltshire. Line 8. Grave 14. Born on the 18th April 1914 in Wiltshire. No further details on next of kin, are you able to assist?

Sgt. Everard Howard Hawken. Swanton Morley Churchyard (All Saints). Grave 6. Born on the 01st June 1922 at whangarei. Worked as a clerk for Dominion Breweries prior to service. Enlisted in the RNZAF at Levin on the 23rd March 1941. Embarked for Canada on the 22nd July 1941. After training at No.4 Flying Training School he was awarded his pilots badge on the 05th December and promoted to sergeant. Embarked for England on the 08th January 1942. Served with this unit for about a week prior to his loss. Son of Martin Gilbert and Pauline May Hawken (née Birt), of Auckland, New Zealand. A total of 228 flying hours logged. At the time of this accident was on attachment from 15 Pilot Advanced Flying Unit.

Researched and dedicated to the relatives of these crews with thanks to Jenifer Lemaire and to the extensive research by Errol Martyn and his publications: “For Your Tomorrow Vols. 1-3”, Drew at WW2Talk Forum, Auckland Library Heritage Collection, AWMM, other sources as quoted below:

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