Ernest Malcolm's Story.
Ernest Barrett was born on 1st March 1915 at Croydon. He was married by the time of his death in an accident. Prior to enlisting into the RAFVR he worked as a civil engineer and he also played Rugby for Birkenhead Park. He received a commission on 20th February 1943 to the rank of P/O on probation (emergency) and rose to F/O on probation (war subs) on 20th August 1943. Ernest was assigned to 30 OTU for bomber training and whilst he was there he was killed in a flying accident in Wellington BK347.
The Crash of BK347
On 21st April 1944 the crew of this Wellington took off from RAF Seighford at 10.40hrs to undertake a navigational training flight over the North of England as part of their training with No.30 Operational Training Unit. The weather turned poor as they flew north with visibility being reduced due to cloudy conditions. The crew became lost and were not flying high enough as they headed over high ground. The aircraft flew into the side of the Whernside at 16.15hrs and killed all but one of the crew. The survivor ( the rear gunner) only received minor injuries as the rear fuselage remained pretty much intact
Investigation report 1
Investigation Report 2
Investigation Report 3
Crash location
Crew details
Pilot - F/O Ernest Malcolm Barrett RAFVR (150205), aged 29, of Coulsdon, Surrey. Buried Blacon Cemetery, Chester.
Navigator - F/Lt Edward Alderson RAFVR (109107), aged 28, of Hetton le Hole, Sunderland. Buried Hetton Cemetery, Sunderland.
Navigator - Sgt Philip Edwin Lomas RAFVR (1581882), aged 21, of Tredington. Buried Shipston on Stour Cemetery, Warwickshire.
Bomb Aimer - F/O Robert Gerald Campbell Brodie RCAF (J/35532), aged 21, of Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Buried Blacon Cemetery, Chester.
Wireless Operator / Air Gunner - Sgt Norman Skirrow RAFVR (2215940), aged 19, of Ripon, Yorkshire. Buried Ripon Cemetery, Yorkshire.
Wireless Operator / Air Gunner - Sgt Ronald Charles Holmwood RAFVR (1803277), aged 19, of Hounslow. Buried Heston Churchyard, Middlesex.
Rear Gunner - Sgt Joseph Marks RAFVR (1352686). Slightly injured.