Operation: Training

Date: 23rd December 1941 (Tuesday)

Unit: No. 21 Operational Training Unit. 6 Group

Type: Wellington IC

Serial: DV422

Code: -

Base: RAF Moreton-in-Marsh, Gloucestershire / RAF Edgefield, Oxfordshire

Location: Wild Spring Farm, Little Tew

Pilot: Sq/Ldr. Reginald George Williams DFC AFM 43077 RAF Age 35. Killed

Pilot: P/O. Sidney Arnold Crump NZ/411978 RNZAF Age 26. Killed

Pilot: P/O. Ian Curtis Grant NZ/41898 RNZAF Age 24. Killed

W/Op/Air/Gnr: P/O. Reginald John Hopkins 111240 RAFVR Age 24. Killed

W/Op/Air/Gnr: Fl/Sgt. Ronald Ivor Peach 645583 RAFVR Age 20. Killed

Air/Gnr: Sgt. Howard Gordon Kelly 1004519 RAFVR Age 20. Killed

REASON FOR LOSS:

Taking off from RAF Edgefield in Oxfordshire (satellite airfield of RAF Moreton-in-Marsh) on a training flight.

While demonstrating performance in the near stalled condition at 14:20 hrs the pilot, Sq/Ldr. Williams lost control the aircraft went into a spin and dived into the ground and caught fire.

Burial and personal details:

Sq/Ldr. Reginald George Williams DFC AFM. Moreton-in-Marsh Cemetery. Sec. K. Grave 18. No further details, are you able to assist?

P/O. Sidney Arnold Crump. Moreton-in-Marsh Cemetery. Sec. K. Grave 19. Born on the 24th November 1915 at Tauranga. Worked as a book keeper for Levin and Company at Fielding prior to service. After serving in the territorial army for a year enlisted in the RNZAF at Levin on the 23rd March 1941. Pilots bade awarded on the 11th August 1941 and received his commission on the 06th September 1941. Embarked for England on the 12th September 1941. Son of Harry and Lily Crump (nee Crosley), of Feilding, Wellington, New Zealand. A total of 138 flying hours logged.

P/O. Ian Curtis Grant. Moreton-in-Marsh Cemetery. Sec. K. Grave 6. Born on the 30th January 1917 at Inglewood. Before enlisting worked as a clerk for the Farmers Co-Op Society at New Plymouth. Enlisted at Levin on the 08th February 1941. Pilots badge awarded on the 26th July 1941 and his commission on the 06th September 1941. Embarked for England on the 12th September 1941. Son of Ian Percy and Myrtle Eileen Grant (nee Curtis), of Inglewood, Taranaki, New Zealand. A total of 140 flying hours logged.

P/O. Reginald John Hopkins. Brookwood Military Cemetery. Grave 24. A. 11. Son of Walter and Christine Hopkins; husband of Barbara Dawn Hopkins, of Manor Park, Essex, England. Of South Africa. Grave inscription: 'Always In My Thoughts" Dawn "I Remember" Rest In God's Peace, My Reg. Mom'.

Fl/Sgt. Ronald Ivor Peach. Sheffield Cemetery (Shiregreen). Sec. A. (Gen.). Grave 233. Son of Joseph Robert and Nancie Peach of Sheffield, Yorkshire, England.

Sgt. Howard Gordon Kelly. Maltby Cemetery. Sec. B. Row 9. Grave 1. Son of Fred and Maud E. Kelly, of Maltby, Yorkshire, England.

Researched and dedicated to the relatives of this crew 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, AWMM, other sources as quoted below:

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