Operation: Non-Operational training mission

Date: 28th April 1945 (Saturday)

Unit No: 582 Squadron, Pathfinder Force (PFF), 8 Group, Bomber Command

Type: Lancaster I

Serial: PB983

Code: 6O:A

Base: RAF Little Staughton, Huntingdonshire

Location: 2 miles north of RAF Deenethorpe, Northamptonshire

Pilot: Fg Off. Robert Patrick Terpening DFC, 424312 RAAF Age 24. Killed *

Navigator I: Flt Lt. Arthur Edward Creedon Derrett DFC, 82961 RAF Age 24. Injured *

Navigator II: Plt Off. Richard Alfred Dennis Newman DFC, 186086 RAFVR Age 21. Injured (1)

Wireless Op/Air Gnr: WO. Arnold Andreas Andersen DFC, 426001 RAAF Age 34. Injured *

Air Gnr (Mid Upper): Flt Sgt. Allan William McIlrath DFC, 428985 RAAF Age 21. Injured *

Air Gnr (Rear): Flt Sgt. John Grylls Watson DFM, 424485 RAAF Age 20. Killed *

Passenger: AC2. R.C. Lloyd 3036306 RAFVR Age? Injured

Above: Fg Off. Robert P. Terpening DFC

* These crew members were aboard 582 Sqn Lancaster I PB9558, 60:A on a mission to Köln the 23rd December 1944 when it was abandoned over Allied territory.

REASON FOR LOSS:

The aircraft took off from RAF Little Staughton on the morning of the 28th April 1945 on a non-operational training mission with a shorten crew complement and a passenger (Cadet).

It was reported that after flying into a snow cloud the aircraft experience icing conditions and lost power on both port engines. Passing through 100 feet altitude all control was lost and the Lancaster crashed 2 miles north of RAF Deenethorpe, Northants at 11:50 hrs.

RAF Deenethorpe is some 22 miles NNE of RAF Little Staughton.

Fg Off. Terpening DFC and Flt Sgt. Watson DFM were killed in the crash and the remainder of the crew and the passenger were injured and admitted to Station Sick Quarters or a Hospital. The nature of their injures are unknown.

On examination of the wreckage it was found that both port engines had been feathered although no reason for this has been found.

(1) The DFC was awarded to acting Fg Off. Newman whilst with 582 Sqn. London Gazette 25th September 1945.

Burial Details:

Fg Off. Robert Patrick Terpening DFC. Cambridge City Cemetery, Grave 15503. Grave inscription: ‘GREATER LOVE HATH NO MAN THAN THIS’. Born on the 2nd May 1920 in Honolulu, Hawaii. Son of Maurice Everett and Hester May Terpening. Husband of Elisabeth Terpening of Elizabeth Bay, New South Wales, Australia.

Also remembered on the Australian War Memorial, Panel 131.

Above left: Flt Sgt. John G. Watson DFM and right grave marker (Courtesy of Len - FindAGrave)

Flt Sgt. John Grylls Watson DFM. Cambridge City Cemetery, Grave 15502. Born on the 6th August 1924 in Roseville, New South Wales. Son of Edmund Lionel Grylls and Hetty Ruth Watson of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.

Researched by Ralph Snape and dedicated to the relatives of this crew (Nov 2023). Thanks to Iain Terpening for notifying us of the incorrect date of the loss (Jun 2025).

Other sources listed below:

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