Ventura AJ171 Mk. II - Operational - 1943-01-20 to 1943-01-20
Squadron: 487 (B) Sqn (RNZAF)
Start Date: 1943-01-20
Completion Date: 1943-01-20
Mission: Operational
Operation: unspecified
Target City:
Target Specific:
Base: Feltwell
Take Off Time:
Squadron Code: EG D
Radio Code:
Return Base:
Return Time:
Crash City: Suffolk, England
Crash Specifics: Kings Forest Lodge, West Stow
Crash Latitude: 0.00000000
Crash Longitude: 0.00000000
Crash Reason: piloterror
Flak Battery:
Enemy Claim:
War Diary Unavailable
6 Group Unavailable
487 New Zealand Squadron (Ki Te Mutunga). Ventura aircraft AJ 171 was participating in low-level training exercises. Sergeant Gerald John Abrey approached the Kings Forest Lodge, near West Stow, Suffolk, in Ventura II AJ171 EG-D. The aircraft caught the top of some trees on slightly rising ground and crashed near the gateway of the Kings Forest Lodge, near West Stow, Suffolk. Abrey and his wireless operator, Flg Off. Frederick Drake RCAF, a 25-year-old Canadian from London, Ontario, were both killed. Sergeant Howard Aldridge RCAF (from Toronto, Ontario), the navigator, was thrown clear and escaped with severe injuries.