22 January 1942 - 407 Squadron, RAF Donna Nook - Lockheed Hudson V – AM602 – P/O R E Dann RCAF – Ops Rover Patrol ?.
Location – RAF Donna Nook on airfield
At the beginning of 1942 RAF North Coates was undergoing an extensive upgrade and the resident Squadrons were temporarily relocated, 407 Squadron to RAF Donna Nook
AM602 returned early from an air operation and was attempting to land at RAF Donna Nook on return. The aircraft overshot and was climbing away for a second approach when it stalled and crashed into the airfield control tower/watch office. The aircraft caught fire and then exploded killing the crew and a number of RAF and Army personnel. Many more were injured, some seriously. Numbers recorded vary dependent on the source. Be that as it may it was a tragic and very costly incident
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P/O Roland Edison Dann RCAF ( pictured above )– Pilot - 25 – 407 Sqn - Son of Roland George William and Ellen Mary Dann, of Portage la Prairie, Manitoba, Canada – North Cotes St Nicholas,Churchyard, Lincolnshire
Sgt John Clifton Gaudet RCAF - 29 – 407 Sqn - on of Frank and Clara Gaudet, of Rainy River, Ontario, Canada – North Cotes St Nicholas,Churchyard, Lincolnshire
Sgt John Edward Duval RAFVR – 31 – 407 Sqn - Son of Robert and Kate Duval of Leicester; husband of Clarice Duval, of Leicester – Leicester Gilroes Cemetery, Leicestershire
Sgt Gerald Edward Anijah Romain RAFVR – 407 Sqn – Walthamstow St Mary Churchyard, London.
F/S Harry Arthur Wilkins RCAF – 407 Sqn - on of Morley Arthur and Lilian Irene Wilkins, of Toronto, Ontario, Canada – Runnymede Memorial.
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In addition LAC Friend of the RAF personnel killed at the airfield is buried at North Cotes
LAC Stanley Walter Friend RAFVR – 21 - Son of Albert Henry and Ada Lucy Elisabeth Friend, of Victoria, London - North Cotes St Nicholas,Churchyard, Lincolnshire
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Circumstances of Death: Lost in aircraft No.407 Sqn Hudson AM602 coded RR-M took off for shipping strike at 22:40 hrs The aircraft returned early due to a technical problem and on final approach the aircraft overshot and the captain attempted a go around, increased engine power and climbed to a height of some 300 feet when it crashed, hitting the Watch Office. The Hudson caught fire, causing its bomb load to explode. All four crew members were killed as well as thirteen personnel on the ground.
North Cotes Parish Church
North Cotes St Nicholas Church CWGCt
Dann Grave
Gaudet Grave
Friend Grave
Compiled by David Fell. Photos from my own archive Canadian Virtual War Memorial and WWP
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