Date: 7th October 1942
Unit: No. 28 O.T.U.
Type: Wellington IC
Serial: R1801
Code: -
Base: Wymeswold
Location: Woodhouse Eaves
Pilot 1: W/O. Donald Anthony Gee 966815 R.A.F.V.R Age 22. Killed
Pilot 2: Fl/Sgt. Albert Valentine Barkel 1379066 R.A.F.V.R. Age 30. Killed
W/Op/Air/Gnr: Fl/Sgt. Leslie Jones 965194 R.A.F.V.R. Age 22. Killed
REASON FOR LOSS:
28 O.T.U. at Wymeswold was used to train night bomber crews.
Took off from Wymeswold on a dula and right hand seat training exercise in the afternoon. Shortly before 16.08 hrs the aircraft was seen to jettison fuel before crashing at Woodhouse Eaves, 3 miles south of Loughborough. At the board of enquiry it was suggested that the fabric in a vital area of the starboard wing may have stripped off. All the crew were killed on impact.
Above left: Fl/Sgt. Albert Valentine Barkel and right: with his wife Beatrice (nee McCullen) at their wedding on the 15th September 1942 (Courtesy Anne Barkel)
Graves of W/O. Gee and Fl/Sgt. Barkel (Courtesy Anne Barkel)
Burial details:
W/O. Donald Anthony Gee. Burton-On-The-Wolds Burial Ground Row f. Grave 14
Son of Leslie and Delphine Ivy Gee of Hulton, Lancashire; husband of Irene Gee.
Fl/Sgt. Albert Valentine Barkel. Sunderland (Rthope Road) Cemetery Ward 15. Sec B.B. Grave 15084
Son of Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Deaton Barkel, and stepson of Frances Barkel; husband of Beatrice Barkel, of Sunderland.
Fl/Sgt. Leslie Jones. Manchester (Gorton) Cemetery Sec X. Grave 110
Son of Philip Edward and Margaret Jones, of Higher Openshaw, Manchester.
For Ann Irving, Woodhouse Parish Council and surviving relatives.
