LEST WE FORGET
Flight Sergeant Allan Edward Dearlove DAVEY
Service No: 416939
Born: Unley Park SA, 12 August 1921
Enlisted in the RAAF: 8 November 1941
Unit: No. 90 Squadron (RAF), RAF Tuddenham, Suffolk
Died: Air Operations (No. 90 Squadron Stirling aircraft EF198), Suffolk, 26 February 1944, Aged 22 Years
Buried: Budleigh Salterton Church Cemetery, Devon
CWGC Additional Information: Son of Horace Edward Dearlove Davey and Floradora Stephen Mechen Davey; husband of Doris Lilian Davey, of Budleigh Salterton
Roll of Honour: Adelaide SA
Remembered: Panel 121, Commemorative Area, Australian War Memorial, Canberra ACT
Remembered: World War II Honour Roll, National War Memorial of SA, North Terrace, Adelaide
Stirling EF198 took off from RAF Tuddenham at 1955 hours on the night of 25/26th February 1944, detailed to carry out a gardening (mine-laying) operation in the Baltic. On return from the mission, while letting down through cloud the aircraft struck some trees on top of a 250 foot hill and crashed at 0255 hours six miles south of the aerodrome at Denham Castle which is 10 kms west south west of Bury St Edmonds, Suffolk. Five of the crew were killed and two were injured.
The crew members of EF198 were:
Flight Sergeant Allan Edward Dearlove Davey (416939) (Pilot)
Flight Sergeant John David Eaton (1283604) (RAFVR) (Wireless Operator Air)
Sergeant Edward Lionel Parrish (1851463) (RAFVR) (Flight Engineer)
Sergeant E B Roberts (1052946) (RAFVR) (Mid Upper Gunner) Injured
Warrant Officer II Joseph Jean Paul Adrien Rodrigue (R/148374) (RCAF) (Air Bomber)
Warrant Officer II George Edward Stringer (R/146997) (RCAF) (Navigator)
Sergeant F W Tasker (1808072) (RAFVR) (Rear Gunner) Injured
Sergeant Roberts later reported “ He heard on the radio the Pilot given landing instructions of Turn 4, QFE and height of cloud base. The pilot then informed the crew he was going to break cloud and circle below 350 feet. The aircraft was descending and the Mid Upper Gunner felt a violent change in attitude of the aircraft as though the pilot had pulled the control column hard back, and then the crash had occurred.” Despite his injuries Sergeant Roberts went to the aid of Sergeant Tasker who was in his turret with both his legs broken.
References:
Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour On-Line Records (RAAF Casualty Information compiled by Alan Storr (409804))
Commonwealth War Graves Commission On-Line Records
Department of Veteran’s Affairs On-Line WWII Nominal Roll
National Archives of Australia On-Line Record A705, 166/9/266