Operation: V1 Patrol ('Diver')

Date: 31st July 1944 (Monday)

Unit: No. 486 Squadron (RNZAF) (motto: Hiwa hau Maka - 'Beware of the Wild Winds').. 150 Wing. 83 Group. 2nd Tactical Air Force.

Type: Tempest V

Serial: EJ586

Code: SA-?

Base: RAF Newchurch, Kent

Location: Halse Farm, Hooe

Pilot: P/O. Alexander Alfred Wilson NZ/422336 RNZAF Age 23. Killed

REASON FOR LOSS:

Taking off at 14:48 hrs from Will's Farm to patrol between Beachy Head and Hastings Sussex.

Collided with a 91 squadron Spitfire XIV RM654 flown by F/O. Schade. DFM at 2,000 feet after coming behind a cloud bank to intercept a V-1 at 2,000 feet in the vicinity of Bexhill, Sussex, at 15:05 hrs. Both fighter aircraft fell to the ground, the Tempest at Halse Farm, Hooe, 4 miles WNW of Bexhill, and the Spitfire nearby.

The Tempest's struck the Spitfire with its left wingtip, just behind the cockpit. Both planes plunged to the ground and were destroyed killing both young pilots.

It was later established that the Spitfire had intruded the Tempest's patrol area. (

Above and below 486 Squadron at Will's Farm, Newchurche

Burial and other details:

Buried on the 04th August 1944.

P/O. Alexander Alfred Wilson. Brookwood Military Cemetery. Grave 8.AA.7. Born at Palmerston North on the 10th December 1919. Education at the Helensville District High School and Wellington Technical College. Worked in farming by Mr.J.C. Abbott of Te Poi.

Enlisted at the Initial Training Wing, Rotorua, on the 4th April 1942, and posted to New Plymouth on the 12th June at No.2 Elementary Flying Training School Then on the 4th September to No. 2 Service Flying Training School, Blenheim. On the 30th November he was awarded the flying badge and promoted to Sergeant on the 6th February 1943. Pilot Officer on the 30th July 1944. On the 9th March 1943, he had embarked for the United Kingdom.

Arrived at No.11 Personnel Despatch and Reception Centre, Bournemouth, on the 12th April, moving to No.12 Royal New Zealand Air Force Centre at Brighton on the 31st May. In June he commenced flying at No.7 (Pilots) Advanced Flying Unit, Peterborough.

On the 14th September was posted to No. 56 Operational

Training Unit, Dundee, No. 59 Operational Training Unit, Milfield, Returning to Tealing, Dundee.

On the 5th April 1944 was posted to No.3 Tactical Exercise Unit, Annan, Scotland, again flying Hurricane aircraft. During May he served at Dalton, Yorkshire, and on the 12th June proceeded to No.3 Tactical Exercise Unit at Honiley and later at Cronfield, where he converted to Typhoon and then Tempest, before posting on the 26th July to No.486 Squadron at Follestone, Kent.

Son of James Alexander Graham Wilson and of Eunice Wilson (née Cornford), of Huapei Road, Kumeu, North Auckland, New Zealand.

F/O. Patrick Alfred Schade. DFM. 147354 RAFVR Age 23. Hillingdon And Uxbridge Cemetery. Row J.D. Grave 18. Son of Fredrick Augustus and Mary Gladys Schade; husband of Helena Mabel Schade (died 15th February 2014, age 88), of Uxbridge, England.

Researched and dedicated to the relatives of this crew 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, National Archives Kew AIR-27-1934-.53/54.

Above 486 Squadron RNZAF Tempest V (Courtesy IWM)

Other pages that may interest you:

Pages regarding losses due to accidents

Pages detailing RNZAF losses

Other sources as quoted below:

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