LEST WE FORGET
Flight Sergeant George Edward TAIT
From Australia serving in the Royal New Zealand Air Force
Service No: 411229 (RNZAF)
Born: Date, Location unavailable
Enlisted in the RNZAF: Date unavailable
Unit: No. 149 Squadron (RAF)
Died: Aircraft Accident (No. 149 Squadron Stirling I aircraft R9265), Bedfordshire, 19 December 1942, Aged 29 Years
Buried: Brookwood Military Cemetery
CWGC Additional Information: Son of Edward J Tait and Nita J Tait of Double Bay, New South Wales, Australia
Roll of Honour: Unknown
At 1615 hours on 19 December 1942 Stirling R9265 crashed at Great Cransden, Bedfordshire. The accident happened during a height and load test during which the structural failure of both wings occurred as the pilot tried to recover from a steep dive.
The crew members of R9265 were:
Sergeant James Frederick Alpe (411734) (RNZAF) (Wireless Air Gunner)
Flying Officer Edward Arthur Ronald Hunt (109355) (RAFVR) (Pilot)
Sergeant Robert Macauley (1371493) (RAFVR) (Air Gunner)
Sergeant Irvine Norman John McNaughtan (411083) (RNZAF) (Air Bomber)
Sergeant Leslie Eric Neary (1167643) (RAFVR) (Air Gunner)
Flight Sergeant George Edward Tait (411229) (RNZAF) (Observer)
Sergeant Harry Stuart Taylor (1805679) (RAFVR) (Second Pilot)
Sergeant George William Williams (1205613) (RAFVR) (Flight Engineer)
References:
Chorley W R, Royal Air Force Bomber Command Losses of the Second World War, Volume 3 Aircraft and Aircrew Losses 1942, Midland Counties Publications UK, 1994
Commonwealth War Graves Commission On-Line Records