Operation: Training

Date: 02nd March 1943 (Tuesday)

Unit: No. 12 Pilots Advanced Flying Unit. 21 Group

Type: Blenheim I

Serial: L1130

Code: -

Base: RAF Grantham, Lincolnshire

Location: Harlaxton, Lincolnshire

Pilot (Inst): F/O. Cyril Stanley Wallace 123617 RAFVR Age 33. Killed

Pilot (U/T): Sgt. Philip Kenyon Norcross NZ/421086 RNZAF Age 19. Killed

REASON FOR LOSS:

During a day flying exercise collided with Blenheim IV T1870 being flown solo by instructor P/O. Colin Edward Wolfgram (1) NZ/414548 RNZAF who managed to bale out of his aircraft, although injured he survived.

The two crew of L1130 were both killed after the aircraft came down at 10:50 hrs at Harlaxton in Lincolnshire and caught fire.

On the 13th May 1941 L1130 had suffered damage after an engine failure during take off from RAF Church Fenton in North Yorkshire with 54 Operational Training Unit. The pilot retracted the undercarriage to prevent it running over the airfield boundary ditch. The pilot we understand suffered no serious injuries.

(1) P/O. Colin Edward Wolfgram. Born on the 15th May 1922. Son of Albert Henry Wolfgramm and Florence Thelma Barclay Wilson, 16 Grove Road,, Mount Albert, New Zealand. Trained at 3 Service Flying Training School, Calgary, Alberta. Course 1. Class 58. Pilots badge awarded 06th November 1942. Survived the war but passed away on the 07th August 1981 age 55. Married Sister Joan Wolfgram (née Sherratt) from the British Army Nursing Division in Nairobi, Kenya on 25th May 1944.

Burial an personal details:

F/O. Cyril Stanley Wallace. Grantham Cemetery. Sec. 19. Row B. Grave 17. Son of the Revd. William John Wallace, M.A. and Annie Rebekah Savell Wallace, of Myland Rectory, Essex, England. Grave inscription: 'He That Overcometh Shall Inherit All Things Rev.Xxi.7'.

Sgt. Philip Kenyon Norcross Grantham Cemetery. Sec. 19. Row C. Grave 16. Born on the 22nd July 1923 at Inglewood. Worked as an electrician for Inglewood Borough Council prior to service. Served in territorial army for 10 months prior to enlisting on 07th February 1942 at Levin. Trained initially with No. 2 Elementary Flying Training School joining on the 04th April 1942. Embarked for Canada on the 22nd June 1942. Trained at No. 12 Service Flying Training School. Pilots badge awarded on the 20th November 1942 and promoted t sergeant.Embarked for England on the 12th December 1942. Joined 12 Pilots Advanced Flying Unit on the 09th February 1943 flying the Anson and Blenheim. Son of Frederick (died 12th January 1948, age 58) and Edna Ruby Norcross (née Andrews - died 17th August 1980, age 88 yrs), of Inglewood, Taranaki, New Zealand. Total of 240 flying hours logged with 3 hours solo on the Blenheim.

Researched and dedicated to the relatives of this pilot with thanks to Jenifer Lemaire and 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, other sources as quoted below:

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