Date: 21/22nd May 1943
Unit: No. 428 Squadron
Type: Wellington X
Serial: HE899
Code: NA-B
Base: Dalton, North Yorkshire
Location: Unknown
Pilot: Sgt. Clarence Norris Magnusson R/124246 R.C.A.F. Age 26. Killed (1)
Nav: Sgt. Walter Charles Sutton R/144189 R.C.A.F. Age 22. Killed
W/Op/Air/Gnr: Sgt. Peter Healey Brand R/135031 R.C.A.F. Age 20. Killed
W/Op/Air/Gnr: Sgt. Robert Edward Hagan R/120914 R.C.A.F. Age 20. Killed (2)
Air/Gnr: Sgt. Emery Kenneth Edwards R/105371 R.C.A.F. Age 20. Killed
(1) Magnusson Creek which flows north into Walker Lake Manitoba, is named after Sgt. Magnusson
(2) Hagan Lake in Saskatchewan is named after Sgt. Hagan
REASON FOR LOSS:
Took off at 22.05hrs on 21st May 1943 joining 63 other Wellingtons, 36 Stirlings and 4 Lancasters on extensive minelaying duties in the Frisians and the River Gironde, and off La Pallice near La Rochelle, France - 104 aircraft in all. 3 Wellingtons and 1 Stirling were lost - 3.8% of the total force.
HE899 was tasked with minelaying in the Nectarines Region of the Frisian Islands in the North Sea. The aircraft was lost without trace.
Top left: Sgt. Emery Kenneth Edwards. Right: Sgt. Peter Healey Brand (A.R. Society archives)
Burial details:
Sgt. Magnusson - Commemorated on Panel 185 of the Runnymede Memorial
Son of Mr. & Mrs. H.G. Magnusson of Charleswood, Manitoba
Sgt. Sutton - Commemorated on Panel 185 of the Runnymede Memorial
Son of Walter and Rhoda Olinda Sutton of North Bay, Ontario, Canada.
Sgt. Brand - Commemorated on Panel 181 of the Runnymede Memorial
Son of Mr. & Mrs. Oswald Brand, Montreal Quebec
Sgt. Hagan - Commemorated on Panel 182 of the Runnymede Memorial
Son of H. E. Hagan and Ada A. I. Hagan of Wolseley, Saskatchewan, Canada.
Sgt. Edwards - Commemorated on Panel 181 of the Runnymede Memorial
Son of Mr. & Mrs. Arthur Edwards of Toronto, Ontario
Researched by Jeremy Nicholson with information supplied by David King (A.R. Society)
Acknowledgments: With thanks to the following (Purchase them "HERE"): Bill Chorley - "Bomber Command Losses", Theo Boiten - "German Nightfighter War Diaries", Martin Middlebrook and Chris Everitt "Bomber Command War Diaries". The superb work of the C.W.G.C.
