Operation: Training

Date: 10th January 1943 (Sunday)

Unit No: 5 Bombing and Gunnery School, 2 Training Command

Type: Bolingbroke IVT

Serial: 10000

Code: -

Base: RCAF Dafoe, Saskatchewan, Canada

Location: Quill Lake, Saskatchewan, Canada

Pilot: Sgt. Terry John Sugrue 415428 RNZAF Age 22. Killed (1)

W/Op/Air Gnr: Cpl. James Alexander Meneilly R62202 RCAF Age 26. Killed (2)

W/Op/Air Gnr: LAC. William Raymond Moisley 421982 RNZAF Age 23. Killed (3)

Passenger: Sgt. Raymond Charles Chappell 414959 RNZAF Age 23. Killed (4)

Note: The Bolingbroke was powered by Mercury XV engines and was license-built version of the Bristol Blenheim Mk IV built by Fairchild-Canada.

Above left to right: Sgt. Terry J. Sugrue, Cpl. James A. Meneilly, LAC. William R. Moisley, Sgt. Raymond C. Chappell.

REASON FOR LOSS:

On the 10th January 1943 Bolingbroke IVT 10000 took-off to carry out a routine gunnery exercise. Aboard was the crew of three (3), pilot Sgt. Sugrue, the two U/T Air Gunner and a qualified pilot, Sgt. Chappell, as a passenger.

The Court of Inquiry determined that the aircraft broke off a scheduled gunnery exercise on a drogue target very shortly after having commenced that exercise and was then seen flying directly toward RCAF Dafoe. It was next seen in an area in the direction from the gunnery target on the opposite side from RCAF Dafoe not far from the immediate area of the rendezvous with the gunnery and drogue aircraft.

Whether intentionally or unintentionally the aircraft was rolled at a considerable height above the ground and it continued to roll or spin until it struck the ground breaking up and suffering further destruction by fire. All occupants where killed in the crash. The crash-site was 4 miles SE of Quill Lake Village, Saskatchewan.

(1) Terry John Sugrue was a labourer for Fred Gray in Greytown. He enlisted in the RNZAF at Levin as a pilot under training on the 28th of September 1941. With No. 3 Elementary Flying Training School on the 8th November 1941. Embarked for Canada on the 28th of December 1941. 13 Service Flying Training School 23rd January 1942. Pilot’s Wings awarded on the 8th May 1942 and promoted to Sergeant. With 5 Bombing and Gunnery School as staff pilot on the 27th May 1942. A total of 669 flying hours logged.

(2) James Alexander Meneilly was store clerk for Golden Rule department store. He enlisted in the RCAF on the 22nd June 1940 in Saskatoon as an equipment Assistant. He voluntarily remustered to aircrew and was accepted as a Wireless Operator/Air Gunner.

He had been previously injured on the 30th August 1941, in a gas explosion in the Airmen’s Canteen at No. 2 Equipment Depot, Calgary, Alberta.

(3) William Raymond Moisley was a mechanic for Bond and Bond Ltd in Auckland. Enlisted in the RNZAF at Rotorua as Wireless Operator/Air Gunner on the 21st March 1942. Embarked for Canada on the 27th of April 1942. With No. 2 Wireless school on the 23rd May 1942. Wireless operator brevet awarded on the 1st December 1942. With No. 5 Bombing and Gunnery School around the 5th January 1943.

(4) Raymond Charles Chappell printer for NZ Cutters Academy. enlisted at Levin as a pilot under training on the 7th September 1941. With No. 3 Elementary Flying Training School on the 18th October 1941. Embarked for Canada on the 28th of December 1941. No. 13 Service Flying Training School 24th January 1942. Pilot’s wings awarded on the 8th May 1942 and promoted to Sergeant. With 5 Bombing and Gunnery School as staff pilot on the 18th May 1942.

Burial details:

Sgt. Terry John Sugrue. Humboldt Cemetery, (Municipal), Soldiers' Plot. Row 2. Grave 8. Born on the 30th of September 1920 in Greytown. Son of John Michael and Clara Ann Sugrue (née Terry) of Greytown, Wellington, New Zealand.

Above Initial Grave Marker for Cpl. James A. Meneilly (Courtesy of his service record)

Cpl. James Alexander Meneilly. Buried on the 11th January 1941 at Biggar Memorial Gardens, Lot 24. Block 18. Born on the 25th of August 1916 in Biggar. Son of James and Mary (née Ross - died 10th September 1963) Meneilly Brother of Agnes, Ross and Graham of Biggar, Saskatchewan, Canada.

LAC. William Raymond Moisley. Humboldt Cemetery, (St. Augustine), Lot 82, Div. 1, Grave 1. Born on the 17th of February 1919 in Auckland. Son of William and Christina Mary (née Kenny died Mar 1961) Moisley. Brother of Eileen Vera, Lesley Gordon Raymond, Doreen Eunice and Eileen Elizabeth of Grey Lynn. Auckland, New Zealand.

Sgt. Raymond Charles Chappell. Humboldt Cemetery, (Municipal), Soldiers' Plot, Row 2, Grave 7. Born on the 13th April 1919 in Auckland. Son of Robert Lovell (died Jul 1952) and of Kathrine (née Reid) Chappell of Grey Lynn, Auckland, New Zealand.

Researched by Kelvin Youngs (Webmaster) and dedicated to the relatives of this pilot, thanks to the extensive research by Errol Martyn and his publications: “For Your Tomorrow Vols. 1-3”, Auckland Library Heritage Collection.Weekly News of New Zealand, Air Museum of New Zealand, Museum of Transport and Technology, Auckland. Thanks to Antonio McDonald for the correction to the aircraft serial number (Apr 2025). Other corrections and updates by Aircrew Remembered (Apr 2025).

Other sources listed below:

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