Operation: Reconnaissance

Date: 27th June 1940 (Thursday)

Unit: No. 269 Squadron (motto: Omnia videmus - 'We see all things'). 18 Group

Type: Hudson I

Serial: N7330

Code: UA-C

Base: RAF Wick, Scotland

Location: North Sea off Norway

Pilot: P/O. Peter Noel Trolove 36183 RNZAF Age 25. Missing - believed killed

Pilot: Sgt. Raymond Harold Radford 564970 RAF Age 25. Missing - believed killed

W/Op/Air/Gnr: Sgt. William Hamilton Gray 548063 RAF Age 23. Missing - believed killed

W/Op/Air/Gnr: P/O. Bernard Claude Lea 77273 RAFVR Age 23. Missing - believed killed

REASON FOR LOSS:

Took off at 06:00 hrs with one other on a special reconnaissance patrol.

Failed to return and is thought to have been shot down by Offz. Anton Hackl of 5./JG77 at 09.40 hrs.

Understood that the Hudson came down in the North Sea off Lister Norway. No trace of the crew or wreckage found.

Above the three brothers all lost during the war.

P/O. Derek Roy Trolove loss details.

Sgt. William Alan Trulove loss details.

Above: Offz. Anton Hackl - further details on Kracker Archive

Above L-R: Rear; Garth Wells Fuller Carey 36169 ✞, George James Denzil Yorke 36185 ✞, Paul Wattling Rabone 36179 ✞, Geordie Keith Larney 33582, Peter Noel Trolove 36183 ✞, Angus Joseph Macdonald 36176 ✞.

Front; H.P Blundell , C.M Hill, Cedric Nicholas Whittington 36184 ✞, Hubert John Keller 36173 ✞, Kenwyn Roland Sutton 36182, Ian Costin Patterson 36178. (Courtesy Air Museum of New Zealand)

Burial details:

P/O. Peter Noel Trolove. Runnymede Memorial. Panel 10. Born on the 29th December 1914 in Avonside, Christchurch. Educated at Christchurch Boys High School and Otago University. A shops supervisor for Ernest Adams Limited in Dunedin. Served 6 months in the territorial army. A RNZAF reserve pilot with Otago Aero Club. Selected for RAD short service commission. 'A' Licence awarded on the 01st June 1938. With Flying Traibibf School and commissioned on the 21st June 1938. Pilot badge awarded on the 02rd October 1938. Embarked for England on the 03rd February 1939. Joined 269 squadron on the 29th March 1939 and carried out 31 operational sorties. To RAF Ringway for training on the Hudson on the 30th January until 07th April. Involved in a landing accident on return from an anti-submarine patrol on the 28th November 1940 but not injured. 658 flying hours logged and completed 31 operational sorties.

Son of Noel Fredrick (died 10th July 1939, age 51) and Laura Zelma Trolove (née Magnus - died 21st August 1970, age 78), of Merivale, Christchurch, Canterbury, New Zealand. Husband of Margaret Elizabeth Trolove (née Bassett - later Best) and father of one son of Christchurch, New Zealand.

Sgt. Raymond Harold Radford. Runnymede Memorial. Panel 18. Son of Frederick and Sarah Radford, of Ilkeston, Derbyshire, England.

Sgt. William Hamilton Gray. Runnymede Memorial. Panel 14. Son of John and Jean Simpson Hamilton Gray.

P/O. Bernard Claude Lea. Runnymede Memorial. Panel 9. Son of William Ernest Lea, and of Amy Elizabeth Lea, of Redland, Gloucestershire, England.

Researched and dedicated to the relatives of this pilot with thanks to the extensive research by Errol Martyn and his publications: “For Your Tomorrow Vols. 1-3”, New Zealand Cenotaph, Weekly News of New Zealand, Air Museum of New Zealand, Museum of Transport and Technology, Auckland, other sources as quoted below:

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