Wellington Mark II W5452 BU-U aircraft, with six air crew members from 214 Squadron on board, took off from RAF Stradishall, in Suffolk, on an operation over Berlin. The mission successful, the aircraft was on its return flight when, low on fuel, it was diverted to RAF Manston, in Kent, due to heavy fog in Stradishill. Attempting an emergency landing, the Wellington crashed into some trees; five of the airmen perished and one was badly injured in the accident.
The five casualties were-
RAFVR Pilot Officer Cyril William ABREY,
RAFVR Sergeant John AITKEN,
RAFVR Sergeant Ivan John GREEN,
RAFVR Sergeant Laurence Douglas KISSACK and
RCAF Pilot Officer John Benjamin RUSTON.
Military Service-
Rank: Sergeant
Trade: Wireless Operator/Air Gunner
Service No: 953705
Age: 21
Service: Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
Division: 214 Squadron [MOTTO: Ultor in umbris ('Avenging in the shadows')]
Son of Thomas and Elizabeth Aitken of Carlisle, Cumbria, England.
He is commemorated by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.
The five casualties were-
RAFVR Pilot Officer Cyril William ABREY,
RAFVR Sergeant John AITKEN,
RAFVR Sergeant Ivan John GREEN,
RAFVR Sergeant Laurence Douglas KISSACK and
RCAF Pilot Officer John Benjamin RUSTON.
Military Service-
Rank: Sergeant
Trade: Wireless Operator/Air Gunner
Service No: 953705
Age: 21
Service: Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
Division: 214 Squadron [MOTTO: Ultor in umbris ('Avenging in the shadows')]
Son of Thomas and Elizabeth Aitken of Carlisle, Cumbria, England.
He is commemorated by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.
Wellington Mark II W5452 BU-U aircraft, with six air crew members from 214 Squadron on board, took off from RAF Stradishall, in Suffolk, on an operation over Berlin. The mission successful, the aircraft was on its return flight when, low on fuel, it was diverted to RAF Manston, in Kent, due to heavy fog in Stradishill. Attempting an emergency landing, the Wellington crashed into some trees; five of the airmen perished and one was badly injured in the accident.
The five casualties were-
RAFVR Pilot Officer Cyril William ABREY,
RAFVR Sergeant John AITKEN,
RAFVR Sergeant Ivan John GREEN,
RAFVR Sergeant Laurence Douglas KISSACK and
RCAF Pilot Officer John Benjamin RUSTON.
Military Service-
Rank: Sergeant
Trade: Wireless Operator/Air Gunner
Service No: 953705
Age: 21
Service: Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
Division: 214 Squadron [MOTTO: Ultor in umbris ('Avenging in the shadows')]
Son of Thomas and Elizabeth Aitken of Carlisle, Cumbria, England.
He is commemorated by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.
The five casualties were-
RAFVR Pilot Officer Cyril William ABREY,
RAFVR Sergeant John AITKEN,
RAFVR Sergeant Ivan John GREEN,
RAFVR Sergeant Laurence Douglas KISSACK and
RCAF Pilot Officer John Benjamin RUSTON.
Military Service-
Rank: Sergeant
Trade: Wireless Operator/Air Gunner
Service No: 953705
Age: 21
Service: Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
Division: 214 Squadron [MOTTO: Ultor in umbris ('Avenging in the shadows')]
Son of Thomas and Elizabeth Aitken of Carlisle, Cumbria, England.
He is commemorated by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.
Inscription
(Epitaph...)
GREATER LOVE
HATH NO MAN THAN THIS,
THAT A MAN LAY DOWN
HIS LIFE FOR HIS FRIENDS
