Archive Report: Allied Forces

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16.03.1945 No. 409 Squadron Mosquito MXIII HK382 F/O. Richard H. Long

Operation: Test flight

Date: 16th March 1945

Unit: 409 Squadron RCAF

Type: Mosquito NH Mk. XIII

Serial: HK382

Base: B.51 Lille, Vendeville, France

Location: Le Bois Miron, nr. Annoeullin, France

Pilot: F/O. Richard Hartley Long J/19116 RCAF Age 22. Killed (1)

Nav: F/O. Kenneth Stickney Brenton J/38742 RCAF Age 28. Killed (2)

REASON FOR LOSS:

During a test flight the Mosquito control was lost and the aircraft dived into the ground. Local reports state they crashed at 14.15 hrs at Le Bois Miron, near Annoeullin. The Squadron ORB’s state 14.40 hrs. but there are no details as to what caused the pilot to lose control.

Crew: L-R: F/O. Kenneth Stickney Brenton, F/O. Richard Hartley Long

(Photographs courtesy Kit Kennard)

(1) His younger brother, Sgt. Gordon Long R/89074 RCAF was also killed earlier in the war. On the 27th May 1944, serving as an air gunner on a Halifax II DG219 with 1656 HCU (Heavy Conversion Unit) flown by 27 year old P/O. Joseph Hetherington 172423 RAFVR from Boxton, Berkshire, England. All 7 crew members lost their lives when the Halifax crashed at Broadway, Stainforth near Doncaster.

(2) His older brother, 29 year old F/O. Edwin Swayne Brenton J/7466 RCAF went missing for over a year before on the 15th August 1943 he was declared dead. he was flying with 31 Squadron on operations over India.

Left: grave of F/O. Kenneth Stickney Brenton

Burial details:

Initially buried at Lesquin before being moved to the Canadian War Cemetery in Belgium after war end.

F/O. Richard Hartley Long. Adegem Canadian War Cemetery. Grave XI.G.8. Son of John Hartley Long and Margaret Long, of Toronto, Ontario, Canada. His brother Gordon is buried at Harrogate (Stonefall) Cemetery.

Right: F/O. Long (courtesy David Fuller)

F/O. Kenneth Stickney Brenton. Adegem Canadian War Cemetery. Grave XI.G.7. Son of Thomas S. and Isabel May Brenton, husband of Margaret Lillian Brenton (née Gunter), of 305 St. Claire Avenue East, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Born on the 8th November 1916. Enlisted November 1942 - commissioned 25th November 1943. Left for active service in England on November 5th 1944. His brother Edwin is commemorated on the Singapore Memorial, column 429.

Researched and dedicated to the relatives of this crew with thanks to Kit Kennard for photographs and information. For further details our thanks to the following, Bill Chorley for HCU information - 'Bomber Command Losses Vols. 1-9, plus ongoing revisions', Commonwealth War Graves Commission.

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