Operation: Training

Date: 15th April 1945 (Sunday)

Unit: No. 1667 HCU (Heavy Conversion Unit)

Type: Lancaster III

Serial: PB565

Code: ?

Base: RAF Sandtoft, Lincolnshire.

Location: Owston Ferry, Lincolnshire

Pilot: P/O. Howard Percy Speed 188176 RAFVR Age 23. Killed

Pilot 2: Fl/Sgt. Raymond Ollerton 1523074 RAFVR Age 21. Killed

Nav: Fl/Sgt. John William Hamilton AUS/25661 RAAF Age 29. Killed

Nav 2: F/O. Bertram Arthur Savage 153755 RAFVR Age 28. Killed

Air/Bmr: F/O. Edward Boon Carss 165049 RAFVR Age 25. Killed

Nav 3: Sgt. Sidney James Kingdon 1097768 RAFVR Age 23. Killed

Air/Gnr: Sgt. Robert Bertram Roy Cook 1893896 RAFVR Age 19. Killed

Air/Gnr: Sgt. Edwin Horace John Martin 1813197 RAFVR Age 20. Killed

Update November 2018: A local chap is keen to place some form of memorial to the crew, perhaps in 2020 - he is keen to contact relatives of the crew to keep them updated of his plans. Please contact us in the first instance.

REASON FOR LOSS:

Took off at 14:55 hrs on a cross country training exercise. After thirty minutes flying PB565 was seen flying at 3,000 ft, for some reason the Lancaster suddenly nosed over and as the angle of the dive increased the aircraft broke up before hitting the ground near Owston Ferry some 8 miles south-west of Scunthorpe, Lincs. The official report states the impact point to be sheet 38, G.R. 265185.

If you know of any further details regarding this accident we would appreciate contact.

Burial details:

P/O. Howard Percy Speed. Bromsgrove Cemetery Sec U. Grave 507. Son of Richard Percy and Elsie Gertrude Speed, of Bromsgrove, husband of Dorothy Speed, of Bromsgrove, England. Grave inscription reads; "Only Son Of Richard And Gertrude Speed And Treasured Husband Of Dorothy".

Fl/Sgt. Raymond Ollerton. Bolton (Heaton) Cemetery. Div 2. Sec V.5. C of E. Grave 70. Son of Joseph and Jane Ollerton, of Great Lever, Bolton, England. Grave inscription reads; "Until The Day Breaks".

Fl/Sgt. John William Hamilton. Harrogate (Stonefall) Cemetery. Sec G, Row J, Joint grave 2-3. Son of James and Ellen Mary Teresa Hamilton, of Erskineville, New South Wales, Australia. Grave inscription reads; "He Gave His Life In The Cause Of Freedom. Lovingly Remembered".

F/O. Bertram Arthur Savage. Harrogate (Stonefall) Cemetery. Sec G, Row J, Grave 5. Son of William and Alice Savage, husband of Doreen Elsie Savage, of Welling, Kent, England. Grave inscription reads; "Sleep On, Beloved And Take Thy Rest We Loved Thee Well But Jesus Loved Thee Best".

F/O. Edward Boon Carss. Blyth (Cowpen) Cemetery. Sec J. Uncons, Grave 37. Son of George William and Martha Rose Carss, of Blyth, husband of Annie Carss, of Gomersal, Yorkshire, England.

Sgt. Sidney James Kingdon. South Molton Cemetery. Chapel ground. Grave 139. Son of Mr and Mrs. S.J. Kingdon (Former Mayor and Mayoress of South Molton) of 72 South Street, South Molton, Devon, England.

Sgt. Robert Bertram Roy Cook. Wadhurst (St. Peter and Paul) Churchyard. Row D. Grave 71. Son of Bertram Mark and Edith May Cook, of Wadhurst, England. Grave inscription reads; "In Loving Memory Of Our Dear Son And The Brave Crew Who Died With Him".

Sgt. Edwin Horace John Martin. Harrogate (Stonefall) Cemetery. Sec G, Row J, Joint grave 2-3. Son of Edward Macdonald Martin and Mabel Grace Martin, husband of Dorothy May Martin, of Cannock, Staffordshire, England. Grave inscription reads; "Sweet Is The Memory Kept In Our Hearts. Wife Dorothy, Baby Jennifer, Mum, Dad, Rose & Iris"

Researched for Sharon Garcia relative of Sgt. Robert Cook, also for Jim Carss, son of the air bomber, F/O. Edward Boon Carss and dedicated to all the crew relatives. With thanks to sources quoted below.

At the going down of the sun, and in the morning we will remember them. - Laurence Binyon
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