Langley, Leslie Mathias (Sergeant)

Killed in Flying Accident 1944-October-04

Sergeant Leslie Mathias Langley RAF

Birth Date: 1920

Born:

Parents: Son of Joseph and Rosetta Julia Langley, of Southall, Middlesex, England.

Spouse:

Home:

Enlistment:

Enlistment Date: unkown date

Service

RAF

Unit

5 OTU- Operational Training Unit

Base

Abbotsford, British Columbia, Canada

Rank

Sergeant

Position

Service Numbers

637875

Final Burial

Royal Oak Burial Park
Sec D Plot 19 Coll grave 3

5 Operational Training Unit - Detachment, Abbotsford, British Columbia. At approximately 03:00 in the morning, Liberator EW127 code letter "V" with a crew of eleven RAF airmen of Course 6 went missing. It was later discovered that the four engine bomber had crashed some seven miles East of Duncan, 12 miles N.W of Patricia Bay, Vancouver Island. Although only three bodies were identified it was concluded that all eleven members perished in the crash. The wreckage was such that the only way air-force investigators were able to be sure it was EW127 was from a data plate serial number off the remains of the No. 1 engine. All remains were interned at the Royal Oak Cemetery, Victoria, B.C. Please see below for links to the other airmen killed in this crash. Text by Michael DesMazes.

Commonwealth War Grave Commission Commonwealth War Graves Commission

Crew or Other Personnel

Liberator EW127

Sergeant Bernard George Barker RAFVR

Sergeant Barker, Bernard George (RAFVR)

Killed in Flying Accident
1944-October-04
Royal Oak Burial Park, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada

Sergeant Andrew James Birrell RAFVR

Sergeant Birrell, Andrew James (RAFVR)

Killed in Flying Accident
1944-October-04
Royal Oak Burial Park, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada

Sergeant Charles Peter Davidson RAFVR

Sergeant Davidson, Charles Peter (RAFVR)

Killed in Flying Accident
1944-October-04
Royal Oak Burial Park, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada

Sergeant William Norman Jenkins RAFVR

Sergeant Jenkins, William Norman (RAFVR)

Killed in Flying Accident
1944-October-04
Royal Oak Burial Park, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada

Flying Officer Leslie Thomas Jordan RAFVR

Flying Officer Jordan, Leslie Thomas (RAFVR)

Killed in Flying Accident
1944-October-04
Royal Oak Burial Park, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada

Sergeant Leslie Mathias Langley RAF

Sergeant Langley, Leslie Mathias (RAF)

Killed in Flying Accident
1944-October-04
Royal Oak Burial Park, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada

Sergeant Frederick Laws RAFVR

Sergeant Laws, Frederick (RAFVR)

Killed in Flying Accident
1944-October-04
Royal Oak Burial Park, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada

Pilot Officer Peter Dennison Metcalfe RAFVR

Pilot Officer Metcalfe, Peter Dennison (RAFVR)

Killed in Flying Accident
1944-October-04
Royal Oak Burial Park, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada

Pilot Officer Ewart Cecil Mitchell RAFVR

Pilot Officer Mitchell, Ewart Cecil (RAFVR)

Killed in Flying Accident
1944-October-04
Royal Oak Burial Park, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada

Pilot Officer Arthur Rockliffe RAFVR

Pilot Officer Rockliffe, Arthur (RAFVR)

Killed in Flying Accident
1944-October-04
Royal Oak Burial Park, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada

Sergeant Lewis Phillip Willetts RAF

Sergeant Willetts, Lewis Phillip (RAF)
Pilot
Killed in Flying Accident
1944-October-04
Royal Oak Burial Park, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada

Accident Card - Consolidated Liberator B. Mk. VI serial:EW127

This accident involved 1 aircraft on 1944-October-04. Liberator s/n EW127.

This accident involved 11 people. Barker BG, Birrell AJ, Davidson CP, Jordan LT, Langley LM, Laws F, Metcalfe PD, Mitchell EC, Rockliffe A, Willets LP, Jenkins WN

This accident had 11 fatalities. Sergeant Frederick Laws RAFVR Killed in Flying Accident service no:1593644 Liberator EW127, Sergeant Charles Peter Davidson RAFVR Killed in Flying Accident service no:1397740 Liberator EW127, Flying Officer Leslie Thomas Jordan RAFVR Killed in Flying Accident service no:135143 Liberator EW127, Sergeant Andrew James Birrell RAFVR Killed in Flying Accident service no:1825645 Liberator EW127, Sergeant Leslie Mathias Langley RAF Killed in Flying Accident service no:637875 Liberator EW127, Sergeant Bernard George Barker RAFVR Killed in Flying Accident service no:1616871 Liberator EW127, Pilot Officer Arthur Rockliffe RAFVR Killed in Flying Accident service no:165626 Liberator EW127, Pilot Officer Ewart Cecil Mitchell RAFVR Killed in Flying Accident service no:165516 Liberator EW127, Pilot Officer Peter Dennison Metcalfe RAFVR Killed in Flying Accident service no:165549 Liberator EW127, Sergeant William Norman Jenkins RAFVR Killed in Flying Accident service no:1836635 Liberator EW127, Sergeant Lewis Phillip Willetts RAF Killed in Flying Accident service no:1162112 Liberator EW127

Unit Desciption

5 OTU (5 Operational Training Unit)

The Operational Training Unit (OTU) was the last stop for aircrew trainees. They spent 8 to 14 weeks learning to fly operational aircraft (Hawker Hurricane or Fairey Swordfish, e.g.). The instructors had experience in actual operations, and often were posted to OTUs after their operational tour.

NO5 OTU Boundary Bay

5 Operational Training Unit was established at RCAF Station Boundary Bay, British Columbia. The former station is now the Boundary Bay Airport. More information on the RCAF Station at Boundary Bay can be found at

Royal Canadian Air Force RCAF.Info

A Detachment of 5 Operational Training Unit was established at RCAF Station Abbotsford, British Columbia. The former Station is now the Abbotsford International Airport. More information on the RCAF Station at Abbotsford can be found at

Royal Canadian Air Force RCAF.Info

Project 44 BCATP

Unvetted Source Project 44 BCATP