Operation: Shipping Strike

Date: 30th July 1944 (Sunday)

Unit: No. 489 Squadron RNZAF 16 Group. Coastal Command

(motto: 'Whakatanagata kia kaha - Acquit yourselves like men, be strong')

Type: Beaufighter TF.X

Serial: NE745

Code: P6-P

Base: RAF Langham, Norfolk

Location: North Sea

Pilot: W/O. William Robert Tuck NZ/413516 RNZAF Age 22. Killed

Nav: Fl/Sgt. Francis Magnus Larnach NZ/425319 RNZAF Age 33. Killed

REASON FOR LOSS:

Initially taking off at 13:42 hrs on a combined strike with 455 Squadron RAAF. However ll aircraft returned within and hour due to low cloud base and the formation becoming split up.

Taking off again at 16:11 hrs with 13 others from the Squadron - all carrying torpedoes. 12 anti-flak Beaufighters from 455 Squadron together with escort of Mustang fighters.

They crossed the North Sea and whilst flying over the Stavanger area enemy fighter attacked. NE745 became separated from the others and was then singled out and attacked by 3 enemy fighters. The Beaufighter was last seen heading out to see taking evasive action after being hit in the wing.

The pilot's body was recovered from the Skagerrak south west of Stromstad and initially buried on the island of Koster - later reinterred Tjärnö. That of the navigator was also recovered from the sea - some 40 km north east of Kristiansand and buried at Grimstad. The wife of the pilot, Elizabeth Tuck was serving in the WAAF and was on duty as a radio controller in the control tower at Langham at the time!

Burial details:

W/O. William Robert Tuck. Kviberg Cemetery. Grave 3.B.2. Born on the 18th May 1922 at Auckland, the son of William Robert Tuck and of Ruth Tuck (née Burton) of Auckland City, New Zealand and husband of Elizabeth Tuck (née Kent - later Harrison), of Whangapara, Auckland, New Zealand. A total of 524 flying hours logged and having completed 19 operational sorties.

Fl/Sgt. Francis Magnus Larnach. Grimstad Cemetery. Grave 387. Born on the 03rd January 1911 in Wellington, the son of John Magnus and Jane Larnach (née Muller) and husband of Helen Mascal Collinson Larnach (née Flan), of Strathmore Taranaki, New Zealand. A total of 235 flying hours logged.

Researched and dedicated to the relatives of this crew with thanks to the research by Errol Martyn and his publications: “For Your Tomorrow Vols. 1-3”, Auckland War Memorial Museum, Weekly News of New Zealand, with thanks to Kjell Reiersen for grave photographs, Michelle Amos for photo of Fl/Sgt. Larnach, other sources as quoted below:

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