Training Accident

Training Accident 13^th/14^th March 1943

Wellington Bomber of 27 OTU RAF Lichfield Z1681

The aircraft took off from RAF Lichfield at 18:50 on 13^th March 1943 for a Night Navigation Exercise over Northern England.  The crew of the aircraft were all in the final stages of their training at RAF Lichfield before joining Bomber Command for Flying Operations.  After an uneventful and successful trip, the aircraft returned to base at Lichfield at 00:40 on 14^th March 1943.  The aircraft made an extremely low approach to the runway, in doing so on the final stages of the approach, the aircraft hit a tree and crashed.  Three of the crew were injured and three died.  All of those who died are buried in St Stephens Church Fradley

The Crew of the Aircraft were:

409428 Pilot Officer Colin Andrew McCreath. RAAF Injured (Pilot and Captain)

409350 Pilot Officer William John Ross Vincent. RAAF Injured (Observer)

405240 Sergeant. Philip Stanley Woodhouse. RAAF. Injured (Wireless Op/Air Gunner)

413765 Flying Officer Alfred Ronald Heins.  RAAF Deceased (Observer)

416918 Pilot Officer Wilfred Wilson Alexander. RAAF Deceased (Bomb Aimer)

1208830 Sergeant. John Denyer RAF.  Deceased (Wireless Op/Air Gunner

409428 Pilot Officer Colin Andrew McCreath.  RAAF.  Injured (Pilot)

Wilfred Alexander was officially classed as the Air Bomber on the aircraft.  Wilfred had trained in Australia initially as a Pilot and subsequently as an Navigator/Observer, joining 27 OTU in January 1943 where he joined the crew he was die with.  He was born on 28^th April 1909 and was a 32 year old salesman from Adelaide, South Australia when he enlisted in the Royal Australian Air Force at St Peters, Adelaide in South Australia on 8^th November 1941.  Wilfred was the son of William Earnest and Blanche Caroline Alexander, of Adelaide, South Australia and the husband of Marna Jeane Alexander, nee Lewis, of Royston Park, South Australia. They were married on 3^rd April 1937 in St Peters College Chapel, Hackney, South Australia.  They had no children.  Wilfred was a keen member of the Adelaide Rowing Club before he enlisted.  86 members of this club enlisted for active service in the Second World War.  Wilfred was buried in St Stephens Church Fradley on 18^th March 1943.  In December 2014, Wilf’s Nephew Bob Alexander, along with his son Chris and two Grandchildren, Bailey and Harry, visited Wilfred’s grave at Fradley.  A road on the housing development in Fradley is named after Wilf Alexander.

Alfred Heins was one of two Navigators on this aircraft on the night it crashed.  Alfred Heins was Born on 7^th December 1916 in Lithgow New South Wales.  He was the son of Walter Alfred and Amy Elizabeth Heins of Sydney Australia.  Alfred enlisted into the General Duties Branch of the Royal Australian Air Force on 13^th September 1941.  After initial flying training in Australia as a Pilot, Alfred was transferred to Canada in June 1942 for training as a Navigator.  He completed this training and was granted a Commission in the Royal Australian Air Force on 9^th September 1942.  He joined 27 OTU in January 1943.  Alfred was not married and he had worked as a School Teacher before the war.  Alfred’s Next of Kin was his sister, Mrs Dulcie Coralee Goss of Epping New South Wales.  Alfred was seriously injured in the crash on the night of 14^th March 1943, with a fractured skull and internal injuries.  Aged 26, he died two days later on 16^th March 1943 in Burntwood Emergency Hospital.  He was buried on 18^th March 1943 in St Stephens Church Fradley.

John Denyer was born in 1909 in Seaton Carew, West Hartlepool.  John Denyer volunteered for service in 1939, initially joining the Royal Artillery, he transferred to the Royal Air Force in 1942 to train as a Wireless Operator/Air Gunner.  He was trained at Padgate, near Blackpool and at Compton Bassett in Wiltshire.  He joined 27 OTU in January 1943.  John was the son of Herbert Denyer, a retired Master Mariner, born in 1862 and Jessie Agnes Denyer, born in 1868.  At the time of his death John’s parents were living in Church End, Finchley, Middlesex.  John had two older sisters Emma and Agnes and was aged 34 on his death.

William Vincent was born on 15^th August 1911 in Bairnsdale Victoria, joining the Royal Australian Air Force in September 1940 for training as a Pilot.  William Vincent completed Flying Training as an Observer in September 1942 and was granted a Commission in the Royal Australian Air Force.  He joined 27 OTU in January 1943.  William was married at the time he enlisted into the RAAF, with his wife living in Victoria.  William suffered a fractured left ankle and shock in the crash and was treated in Burntwood Emergency Hospital, transferring to RAF Lichfield Sick Quarters one week later.  William was the only member of this crew to complete his training and go on to fly operationally.  William Vincent subsequently joined 190 Squadron as a Navigator, flying Stirling Bombers, then in a transport role, at RAF Fairford in 1944.  190 Squadron took part in many airborne transport operations in the latter stages of the war, including the Arnhem Operation, but they were mostly employed in single aircraft transport operations over Europe for The Special Operations Executive.  William Vincent was awarded a “Mention in Despatches” in 1944.  As a married man he was one of the first to be demobilised at the end of the war.  He returned to Australia in June 1945 and was discharged from the Royal Australian Air Force in September 1945.

Philip Woodhouse was born on 4^th August 1918 Mareeba Queensland.  Immediately before joining the Royal Australian Air Force Philip was working as a Stockman on a Sheep Station at Mulingera in Queensland.  He joined the Royal Australian Air Force in February 1941 and trained as a Wireless Operator.  He joined his crew at 27 OTU in January 1943.  In the crash on 14^th March 1943 Philip suffered only light injuries, a scalp wound and shock.  He was treated in the Station Sick Quarters at RAF Lichfield.  Philip Woodhouse was repatriated to Australia 5^th June 1943.  Thereafter he served as an instructor at RAAF Station Sandgate until his discharge as a Warrant Officer in May 1945.