Looking into the circumstances surrounding the death of Sgt W.Op/Air Gnr Vivian James Ackroyd 415510 R.N.Z.A.F. died 01 Apr 1943. Son of Herbert Ackroyd and Edith Emily Ackroyd (nee Thomas), of Temuka, Canterbury, New Zealand. I believe Sgt Ackroyd was of 306 Ferry Training Unit which was formed at RAF Templeton in Jan 1943 with Bristol Beauforts and moved to Maghaberry in June of 1943, so it would appear that Sgt Ackroyd possible died at Templeton. His father probably died in 1938 and left a will of Waitohi N.Z., a Farmer. Rgds Owen Ap Benfro Pembrokeshire Military Headstones 1722 to 2008
According to the RAF Casualty list promulgated in Flight Global magazine in June 1943 his death was classified as Killed on Active Service - so either a non-operational flying accident or a work-related ground incident (I think that's right). If it was in contact with the enemy it is classified as Killed in Action and non-service accidents / illness etc are classified as Died on Active Service. 1943 | 1532 | Flight Archive Checking the CWGC for other Air Force deaths in the UK that day show him as the only burial in that particular churchyard, but it is possible that any others killed in the same incident were buried in their home-towns.
I just noticed that a RAAF casualty from the same day buried in Wallasey (Rake Lane) Cemetery is also listed as being a member of 306 Flying Training RAF - Sergeant John Henry Norman 405765 RAAF Cause of death: Accidental According to what I have so far on Sergeant Norman - NORMAN, John Henry - (Sergeant) 405765 Beaufort DK124 Narberth, Pembrokeshire, Wales 1-Apr-43 306 Flying Training RAF Two files are available for reading on-line at the National Archives of Australia for Sgt Norman - his pers file and a casualty file, which lists that In addition to the file subject, the following servicemen are mentioned in this record: COLCLOUGH S – (Sergeant); Service Number – 1236367 RAF (buried STOKE-ON-TRENT (HARTSHILL) CEMETERY) RUDD H – (Sergeant); Service Number – 142726 RAF (survived the crash - a folio on the file provides an extra digit for his service number - 1425726 - not found on CWGC so must have survived the war) ACKROYD V J – (Sergeant); Service Number – 415510 NZ The casualty file has a few pages in the middle on the crash itself and it's aftermath and even a pretty precise location:
What can I say but my sincere thanks, for the information and research. Am I correct in thinking the suggestion is that 2 a/c collided mid-air. This completes everything I need on Sgt Ackroyd for my research. Just to think I have been passing the farm on an almost daily basis and never realised. Their yard in front of the Barn is a regular location for mobile speed cameras on the A40(T). You are correct in that Ackroyd is the only burial of this incident at R.W. His is one of 8 jpegs I have of military headstones at this location which along with the over 3,000 jpegs I have of military related headstones I have of Pembrokeshire comprise of over 80% of Churchyards and Cemeteries I have visited in and around my county. Rgds Owen Ap Benfro
No just one aircraft with 4 on board (normal crew for the Beaufort). Storr has created a typo in the aircraft serial. It should read DX124 as shown in the RAF Form 1180, Form 765 included in the RAAF casualty file and the NAA descriptor for Sgt Norman's files. Regards Ross
There exists an excellent reference work for all personnel killed while enlisted in the RNZAF: Errol Martyn's For your Tomorrow. Each airman has an entry that gives his basic service details as well as a seperate entry for every aircraft loss that resulted in an airman's death. Vol II of this work states the crash investigators determined that the Beufort in question suffered engine failure at 800 feet caused by fuel starvation due to the pilot selecting the incorrect fuel cock setting, and the aircraft crashed while attempting an emergency landing at Redstone Cross.
