Date: 10th March 1942
Unit: No.158 Squadron
Type: Wellington II
Serial: W5431
Coded: NP-W
Location: Driffield
Pilot: Fl/Lt. George Gordon Duff DFC 89378 (R.A.F.V.R.) Age; 24, Killed
Co/pilot: Sgt. Colin Albert Cornwell 402731 (R.A.A.F.) Age; 22, Killed
Obs: P/O Douglas Albert Edward Clarke 115725 (R.A.F.V.R.) Age; 24, Killed
W/Op: Sgt. Harry James Evans 1051922 (R.A.F.V.R.) Age; 21, Killed
Air/Gnr: Sgt. Lesley James Caldwell 1166513 (R.A.F.V.R.) Age; 22, Killed
Air/Gnr: Sgt. E.W. Clarke Injured
REASON FOR LOSS:
Took off at 19.34 hrs from Driffield, crashed at 02.50 hrs and burst into flames on return to base. Fl/Lt Duff, a South African serving in the R.A.F. and his Australian Co- pilot are buried in Driffield Cemetery. Sgt. Caldwell was taken to Tansley, where his father, the Rev'd George Caldwell, was the vicar. The tail gunner owes his life to Cpl. Hughes who, without regard to his own safety, smashed into the rear fuselage and dragged Sgt. Clarke to safety. In recognition of this courageous act, an entry appeared in the Notable War Services despatch, issued on 11th May 1942.
Awaiting information from the relatives of the Pilot Fl/Lt. George Duff, D.F.C.
Left - Driffield Cemetery, right - Tansley (Holy Trinity) Churchyard
Left - Magull (St. Andrew) Churchyard, right - Woodgrange Park Cemetery
Burial details:
Fl/Lt. George Gordon Duff DFC 89378 (R.A.F.V.R.) Driffield Cemetery Grave 6179
Son of James Anderson Duff and Winifred Duff. Of South Africa
Sgt. Colin Albert Cornwell 402731 (R.A.A.F.) Driffield Cemetery Grave 6173
Son of Albert Edward and Hilda Evelyn Comwell, of Narrabeen, New South Wales, Australia.
P/O Douglas Albert Edward Clarke 115725 (R.A.F.V.R.) Woodgrange Park Cemetery, East Ham Square 45 Joint Grave 10246
Son of Edward W. John and Winifred Clarke, of Stratford; husband of Dorene Louise Clarke, of Ilford.
Sgt. Harry James Evans 1051922 (R.A.F.V.R.) Magull (St. Andrew) Churchyard Plot C. Grave 43
Son of Arthur James Evans and Margaret Evans, of Maghull.
Sgt. Lesley James Caldwell 1166513 (R.A.F.V.R.) Tansley (Holy Trinity) Churchyard Grave 6185
Son of the Revd. George Caldwell and Nellie Caldwell, of Tansley Rector
