F049 LIONEL FRANCIS CLAY. Sergeant, 9114496, Royal Air Force (VR). of 15 Operational Training Unit. He was crew of Vickers Wellington Bomber Z8775. Born 2 November 1916 at 1 Kempshott Cottages, Horsham, to Walter Francis and Violet Lillian Eliza Clay nee Porter. Died 12th July 1941 aged 25 years as the result of his plane crashing at Safi Landing Strip, St Nicola, Malta after getting airbourne from RAF Luqa.
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. The crew and one passenger, Lt Peter Dale. Total of seven, all perished.
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.
F049 DESMOND DAVID PATRICK THOMAS. (Cadet) Sergeant, Pilot, 929865, Royal Air Force (VR), of 15 Operational Training Unit. He was crew of Vickers Wellington Bomber Z8775. Born 1922 to David William Charles and Eleanor May Stephens Thomas, nee Davies of Pantgwyn, Cardiganshire. Died 12th July 1941 aged 19 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 of seven all perished.
F049 ARTHUR JOHN HUNTLEY. Flight-Sergeant, 410488, 458 Squadron Royal Australian Air Force stationed at RAF Luqa, Malta. Born 5 October 1918 at Mornington, on the Mornington Peninsula, Victoria to Percy William and Nellie Jane Huntley, of Merricks North, Victoria, Australia. He enlisted 20 January 1942 aged 23 years at No7 Recruiting Centre RAAF, Victoria, Australia civilian occupation, orchardist. In the evening of the 23 January 1944 he was crew of Wellington Bomber on air operations which had to be ditched after engine failure. He was admitted to Naval Sick Bay, Augusta, Sicily suffering from shock, he was later discharged fit for duty.
On the 19th April 1944 aged 25 years he was killed in an aircraft crash about 21.00 hrs at RAF Luqa.
F049 ROBERT HENRY WILLIAMSON. Flight-Sergeant, Wireless Operator/Air Gunner, 1252008, Royal Air Force (VR), attached to 458 Squadron, Royal Australian Air Force. Born 1914 to James Robert and Ellen Maria Williamson, nee Preston of 28 Cowbridge Road, Bridgend, Glamorgan, South Wales. On the 19th April 1944 he was killed in an aircraft crash about 21.00 hrs at RAF Luqa. He was again crew of a Wellington Mk14 Registration number H243 of 458 Squadron returning from Convoy Escort. At approximately 1,000 feet the port (left) engine cut out and caught fire and crashed at RAF Luqa on landing. The aircraft at the time of the crash was carrying depth charges.
F049 JOHN MICHAEL WAGSTAFFE. Warrant Officer, Pilot, 1219231, Royal Air Force (VR), attached to 458 Squadron, Royal Australian Air Force. Born 1922 at Keighley, West Yorkshire to Frederick Foster and Christina Wagstaffe, nee Barrett. In 1943 he married Pauline Belmont Hilda Ward at Barrow upon Soar, Leister. At the time of his death his widow was residing at The Poplars, Birstall, Leicestershire. His wife died December 2013 at Hour Bay, South Africa.
On the 19th April 1944 he was killed in an aircraft crash about 21.00 hrs at RAF Luqa. He was again crew of a Wellington Mk14 Registration number H243 of 458 Squadron returning from Convoy Escort. At approximately 1,000 feet the port (left) engine cut out and caught fire and crashed at RAF Luqa on landing. The aircraft at the time of the crash was carrying depth charges.
His father Frederick Foster Wagstaff fought and survived the Great War as Private 91425, 9 Tank Corps
Huntley, Williamson and Wagstaffe were crew of a Wellington Mk14 Registration number H243 of 458 Squadron returning from Convoy Escort. At approximately 1,000 feet the port (left) engine cut out and caught fire and crashed at RAF Luqa on landing. The aircraft at the time of the crash was carrying depth charges.
Wagstaffe was laid to rest in the morning 22 April 1944 in Capuccini Naval Cemetery, Malta. Another who died was Flying Officer 409574 Herbert Russell McMillan 458 Squadron, Royal Australian Air Force. He is at rest in Capuccini Naval Cemetery, Malta Plot E Grave 23. Two survived but were severely injured.
All at rest in Capuccini Naval Cemetery, Malta Plot F Grave 49.
