Vickers Wellington IC, Serial R1597

No 23 Operational Training Unit was formed at RAF Pershore on 1 April 1941 within No 6 Group Equipped with Wellingtons, it trained night bomber crews for the rest of the war. By June it had taken over Defford as a satellite and on 11 May 1942 it was transferred to No 91 Group.  On 18 May Defford was handed over to the Ministry of Aircraft Production resulting in the size of the OTU being reduced as it was now required to operate without a satellite.  Along with the other OTUs it was called upon to provide aircraft and crews for the three ‘Thousand Bomber’ raid, the first of which took place on 30/31 May with No 23 OTU providing 34 aircraft and crews, one of which was lost.  The following night another 33 aircraft was despatched to Essen with two failing to return but on 25/26 June it was only able to provide 17 aircraft for the raid on Bremen resulting in the loss of a further two aircraft.  The unit later provided aircraft to other large Bomber Command operations.

 On 16 November 1942 it took over the satellite at Stratford from No 22 OTU and was then able to expand  until disbanding on 15 March 1944 with ‘B’ Flight being transferred to No 22 OTU.

Crashed At Troed y rhiw Farm, Llangammarch Wells in the Brecon Beacons in a violent storm, after Being Struck By Lightning in Bad Weather During A Cross Country Exercise

The crew was detailed to carry out a Cross-Country Flight: Base-Coding Bank Mull of Galloway-Point ‘A’-Aberystwyth-Base. E.T.A. at Base was 15.15. hrs. The last Signals received from the Aircraft was at 14.35 hrs. About 1900 hrs. 6 Group Operations stated that the Royal Observer Corps Headquarters at Cardiff reported that a Wellington had crashed on fire near Llangammach Wells, Breconshire, at 15.35 hrs; this aircraft was R.1597.

The Crew:

Desmond Walter Dowling, Sergeant, 1311793, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. Desmond was born at Mutford, Suffolk on 24 May 1922, the son of Thomas Henry Dowling and Nellie Harriet Dowling (nee Rodford). The family later resided at 35, St. Francis Road, Salisbury. Desmond enlisted into the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve and after training as an Air Gunner was posted to 23 Operational Training Unit, at RAF Pershore, in Worcestershire. He was just 19 years old when he was killed in the crash of Vickers Wellington IC, Serial R1597 at Llangammarch Wells on 8 April 1942. His body was recovered from the wreckage and brought back for burial in Pershore Cemetery, Worcestershire.

Frederick Thomas Ellingham, Sergeant, 1262787, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. Frederick was born at Kingston, Surrey on 4 May 1915, the son of James Thomas Ellingham and Emily Louise Ellingham (nee Stanfield). By 1939 he was residing at 123, Gladstone Road, Wimbledon, where he worked as a clerk for a fruit importer. Frederick married Mary Muriel Brookman, a dressmaker, from Morden, Surrey in the spring of 1940. Frederick enlisted into the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve and after training as a Wireless Operator/ Air Gunner was posted to 23 Operational Training Unit, at RAF Pershore, in Worcestershire. He was 27 years old when he was killed in the crash of Vickers Wellington IC, Serial R1597 at Llangammarch Wells on 8 April 1942. His body was recovered from the wreckage and brought back for burial in Morden Cemetery, Battersea, Surrey.

Neville Griffin, Sergeant, 905561, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. Neville was born on 7 July 1907, the son of Charles William and Emily Amelia Griffin, of Palmer’s Green, Middlesex. He enlisted into the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve and after completing his training as an Air Gunner was posted to 23 Operational Training Unit, at RAF Pershore, in Worcestershire. He was 23 years old when he was killed in the crash of Vickers Wellington IC, Serial R1597 at Llangammarch Wells on 8 April 1942. His body was recovered from the wreckage and brought back for burial in Pershore Cemetery, Worcestershire.

Jack Matthew Kennedy, Sergeant, R/68661, Royal Canadian Air Force. Jack was born at Elm Creek, Manitoba, Canada on 30 April 1918, the son of Matthew Sexsmith Kennedy, and Hattie Elizabeth Kennedy (nee Vallier). He worked as a gold miner at Red Lake, Ontario prior to the war. Jack enlisted into the Royal Canadian Air Force at Fort William, Ontario on 4 October 1940. He trained as a pilot in Canada prior to embarking for Britain, joining 23 Operational Training Unit, at RAF Pershore, in Worcestershire. He was 34 years old when he was killed in the crash of Vickers Wellington IC, Serial R1597 at Llangammarch Wells on 8 April 1942. His body was recovered from the wreckage and brought back for burial in Pershore Cemetery, Worcestershire.

William Haylett Lacey, Sergeant, 1263271, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. William was the son of William Haylett Lacey and Nora Lacey (nee Brooks), of 60, Ormiston Road, Westcombe Park, Greenwich. He enlisted into the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve and after completing his training as a Wireless Operator was posted to 23 Operational Training Unit, at RAF Pershore, in Worcestershire. He was 19 years old when he was killed in the crash of Vickers Wellington IC, Serial R1597 at Llangammarch Wells on 8 April 1942. His body was recovered from the wreckage and brought back for burial in Charlton Cemetery, Greenwich.

William McLafter Lomax, Sergeant, 1076999, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. William was born at Widnes on 24 January 1908, the son of William Lomax and Rose Lomax. He married Margaret Collins at Liverpool on 10 September 1938. William worked as a motor driver and mechanic at Liverpool prior to the war. He enlisted into the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve and trained as a Navigator prior to being posted to 23 Operational Training Unit, at RAF Pershore, in Worcestershire. He was 34 years old when he was killed in the crash of Vickers Wellington IC, Serial R1597 at Llangammarch Wells on 8 April 1942. His body was recovered from the wreckage and brought back for burial in Charlton Cemetery, Greenwich.

William Smith, Sergeant, 1126014, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. William was from Wallasey, in Cheshire. He enlisted into the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve and after completing his training as a Navigator was posted to 23 Operational Training Unit, at RAF Pershore, in Worcestershire. He was 24 years old when he was killed in the crash of Vickers Wellington IC, Serial R1597 at Llangammarch Wells on 8 April 1942. His body was recovered from the wreckage and brought back for burial in Wallasey (Rake Lane) Cemetery, Cheshire.