Operation: Training

Date: 1st May 1943 (Saturday)

Unit No: 1663 Heavy Conversion Unit (HCU), Bomber Command

Type: Halifax V

Serial: DG408

Code: Unknown

Base: RAF Rufforth, Yorkshire

Location: English Channel, off Brest, France

Pilot: Sgt. Eric Ford Williamson 815223 RAF Age 22. Killed

Flt Eng: Sgt. Clive Richard Leonard Thornton 577022 RAF Age 18. Killed

Nav: Sgt. Wilfred John Pelham 1397020 RAFVR Age 21. Killed

2nd Nav: Sgt. Dennis Charles Butlin 547514 RAF Age 26. Killed (1)

Bomb Aimer: Sgt. Dennis William Suffling 1388152 RAFVR Age 21. Killed (2)

WOp/Air Gnr: Sgt. Allan John Dunn 1312809 RAFVR Age 27. Killed

Air Gnr (Mid Upper): Sgt. Henry Hinett 1520789 RAFVR Age 22. Killed

Air Gnr (Rear): Sgt. John Hunter 652116 RAFVR Age 22. Killed

REASON FOR LOSS:

The aircraft took-off at 15:20 hrs from RAF Rufforth in Yorkshire on a cross-country training exercise.

1663 Heavy Conversion Unit (HCU) Halifax V (courtesy IWM

The flight went terribly wrong and ended in tragedy at about 19:25 hrs in the sea off the French port of Brest. There were no known Luftwaffe fighter or Flak claims associated with this loss. All the bodies were recovered at various places along the French Coast.

(1) On the 3rd June 1943, Sgt. Butlin’s body came ashore on the Channel Island of Jersey, near La Pulente.

Sgt. Dennis Charles Butlin shown with his wife (courtesy Martin and Christine Jermey)

On the 5th June his and the body of Sgt. Abraham Holden from 431 Sqn Wellington X HE213 SE:F, lay in state in the Hospital Chapel with hundreds of islanders visiting the coffins to pay their last respects, prior to a service on the morning of 6th June.Again, hundreds of people lined the route but the Luftwaffe prevented them entering the gates of the cemetery.

The Germans provided a full military funeral for Sgt. Holden, together with the other crew member. Wreaths were laid by the Luftwaffe and the Bailiff of Jersey.

In fact there were so many other wreaths that two large lorries were laid on to carry them to the graveside. Later in the day thousands of islanders filed past the graves in respect and the Germans did nothing to stop them.

(2) Sgt. Dennis William Suffling

Above: Sgt. Dennis William Suffling with his younger brother, Terry and mother Alice. (courtesy Amy Woodcock)

(3) Sgt. John Hunter

Above: Sgt. John Hunter (courtesy Jackie Campbell via Kate Tame)

Burial details:

Sgt. Eric Ford Williamson. Bayeux War Cemetery, Grave XVIII.F.13. Grave Inscription: ‘TOO DEARLY LOVED TO BE FORGOTTEN BY HIS MOTHER AND SISTER’. Born in the 2nd Qtr of 1921 in Nottingham. Son of Percy Henry and of Louise May (née Ford) Williamson of Nottingham. The adopted son and nephew of Elizabeth Ford of Nottingham, England.

Sgt. Clive Richard Leonard Thornton. Barneville-Sur-Mer Communal Cemetery. Grave Inscription: ‘EVER IN OUR THOUGHTS. MUM, DAD AND ALLAN’. Born in the 3rd Qtr of 1924 in Reigate, Surrey. Son of Richard Alexander and Annie Irene Thornton of Merstham, Redhill, Surrey, England.

Above: Grave marker for Sgt. Butlin (Courtesy Richard Allenby)

Sgt. Wilfred John Pelham. Bayeux War Cemetery, Grave VIII.C.5. Grave Inscription: "UNTIL THE DAY BREAK AND THE SHADOWS FLEE AWAY". Born in the 2nd Qtr of 1922 in Diver, Kent. Son of Frederick Charles and Mary Selina Sophia (née Tannar) Pelham of Wyboston, Bedfordshire, England.

Sgt. Dennis Charles Butlin. St. Helier War Cemetery, Howard-Davis Park, Grave 1. Born on the 4th Qtr of 1916 in Leeds. Son William John (deceased in before 1916) and Drucilla Dulcie (née Whitley) Butlin of Leeds. Husband to Mabel (née Fryer) Butlin of Leeds, England. Denis was the youngest of four siblings: Irene Beatrice (born 1906), Wilfred (1909) and Maud (1912)

Above: The younger brother of Sgt. Suffling, Terry, visiting his brothers grave.

Sgt. Dennis William Suffling. Bayeux War Cemetery, Grave VIII.C.3. Grave Inscription: ‘WE LEAVE HIM IN GOD'S KEEPING NOT DEAD BUT GONE BEFORE’. Born in the 3rd Qtr of 1922 in Great Yarmouth, Norfolk. Son of Bertie Reginald and Alice Rebecca (née Knott) Suffling of Southtown, Great Yarmouth, Norfolk, England.

Sgt. Allan John Dunn. Bayeux War Cemetery, Grave VIII.C.10. Grave Inscription: ‘GOOD NIGHT, DEAR SON GOD BLESS YOU. SADLY MISSED BY MUM, POP, LUCY, ETHEL AND SISTERS’. Born on the 15th February 1916 in Ringwood, Hampshire. Son of John Joseph and Annie Bessie Matilda (née Green) Dunn of Sandleheath, Hampshire, England.

Sgt. Henry Hinett. Bayeux War Cemetery, Grave VIII.C.4. Grave Inscription: ‘YEARS ROLL ON BUT MEMORIES LAST AND ALWAYS WILL TILL LIFE IS PAST’. Born in the 2nd Qtr of 1921 in Congleton, Cheshire. Son of Henry and Eliza (née Butters) Hinett of Sandbach, Cheshire, England.

Grave Marker for Sgt. John Hunter (courtesy Jackie Campbell via Kate Tame)

Sgt. John Hunter. Siouville Churchyard. Grave Inscription: ‘NOT ONE OF THEM DEATH DID FEAR, SO LET'S SING THEIR PRAISE BOTH FAR AND NEAR’. Son of Mr. and Mrs. Hugh Hunter of Belfast, Northern Ireland.

Researched for Martin and Christine Jermey (relatives of Sgt Butlin) and also to Jackie Campbell, niece of Sgt John Hunter with thanks to Kate Tame (Aircrew Remembered, researcher and specialist genealogist) for her ongoing research into this crew. Thanks to Richard Allenby for the Grave photographs who runs the website - Yorkshire Aircraft, detailing Air crashes in Yorkshire (2013). Thanks to Amy Woodcock for photo and details on Sgt. Suffling (June 2017). Thanks to Paul Markham for Sgt. Butlin’s Next of Kin details (Apr 2026). Other update by Aircrew Remembered (Apr 2026).

Other Sources list below:

At the going down of the sun, and in the morning we will remember them. - Laurence Binyon
All site material (except as noted elsewhere) is owned or managed by Aircrew Remembered and should not be used without prior permission.
© Aircrew Remembered 2012 - 2026 Last Modified: 03 April 2026, 03:56