Kranji Military Cemetery Photographs Set 3

Air Despatchers

Despatchers killed on 26 Ser 53
Dvr D.A Jones, Dvr J.C. Jones, Dvr W. Jones, Dvr E. Muller.

These men were RASC Air Despatchers serving with 55 Company RASC (Air Despatch) based at Kuala Lumpur. On 26th September 1953, they were on a supply dropping mission at Bertam, Ulu Kelantan when the Valetta aircraft of 52 Sqn RAF they were in crashed. The crash was heard by a Malayan Railways official about an hour after take off, about a mile west of the railway at Bertam. A search for the aircraft was instituted with helicopters, Valettas and a Sunderland taking part.

Men of the 3rd Battalion The Malay Regiment reached the crash site the following day and found that there were no survivors. All of the bodies were recovered from the crash site and originally buried at Kota Bahru.

As well as the Despatchers, the following members of 52 Sqn RAF also died:-
Fl/Lt L. Langley
F/O J.A. Shillaker
P/O R.A. Craddock &
Sgt R.F. de Rosa.

Cpl Barnard Dvr Box Cpl Howitt L/Cpl SmithDvr Wroe 
Cpl G. Barnard, Dvr A.D.G. Box, Cpl A. C. Howitt L/Cpl H.W. Smith & Dvr Wroe

These men from 55 Company RASC (AD) were on a training sortie in a Hastings of 48 Sqn RAF which crashed near the 10th Milestone, Yio Chu Kang Road, Singapore. There were no survivors. Three other Air Despatchers who were on the crew were cremated. They were, Dvr A.C. King, Dvr F.E. Smith & Dvr D. McG. Tennant.

The RAF Crew were:-
FL. Lt. A Lyne, Pilot
Fl. Lt. G.E. Hickman, Co-Pilot
Fl. Lt. P.G. Tarling, Navigator
Sgt. J.A. Wells, Flight Engineer
Sgt J.J. McConnell, Signaller

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