F48 WILLIAM JOHN QUINN RAMSAY, EUGENE OSCAR TOWNSEND, STANLEY JOHN BIGGS, HENRY THOMAS ALPE

F048 WILLIAM JOHN QUINN RAMSAY. Sergeant, Wireless Operator/Air Gunner, 1002037, Royal Air Force (VR), of 15 Operational Training Unit. He was rew of Vickers Wellington Bomber Z8775. Born 1915 to Duncan and Ann Jamieson Quinn Ramsay. Husband of Mary Helen Ferguson Ramsay, of Kincardine, Fife. Died 12th July 1941 aged 26 years as the result of his plane crashing at Safi Landing Strip, St Nicola, Malta after getting airbourne from RAF Luqa. The crew and one passenger Lt Peter Dale. Total seven all perished.

Where was Safi Airstrip? Safi air field, or more precisely the airstrips at Safi, was an auxiliary airfield to RAF Luqa and RAF Hal Far. It was constructed from 1941 by order of Air Commodore Maynard, who foresaw that both airfields would become a prime bombing target during World War II.

No. 15 Operational Training Unit RAF (15 OUT) was formed in August 1940 as part of No. 6 Group RAF Bomber Command at RAF Harwell to train night bomber crews on the Vickers Wellington. In 1942 it carried out seven operational missions. It was disbanded in March 1944.

F048 EUGENE OSCAR TOWNSEND. Sergeant, Pilot, 1001442, Royal Air Force (VR). of 15 Operational Training Unit. He was crew of Vickers Wellington Bomber Z8775. Born 1920 to Ivor and Georgette Townsend, of Edinburgh. Died 12th July 1941 aged 21 years as the result of his plane crashing at Safi Landing Strip, St Nicola, Malta after getting airbourne from RAF Luqa. The crew and one passenger Lt Peter Dale. Total seven all perished.


F048 STANLEY JOHN BIGGS. Warrant Officer, Pilot, 1263193, Royal Air Force (VR), 229 Squadron. Son of Joseph John and Maud Biggs, of Kenton, Middlesex. Died 7th January 1944 aged 23 years.


F048 HENRY THOMAS ALPE. Sergeant, Navigator/Radar, 1603261, Royal Air Force (VR) 108 Squadron, aged 20 years. Son of Henry Thomas and Kathleen Alpe, of Morden, Surrey. Died 2nd May 1944

All at rest in Capuccini Naval Cemetery, Malta Plot F Grave 48.