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| RAF No. 160 Squadron Former Assignments 301 FTU |
Pilot F/O Walter "Wally" A. Wallace, J/15180 RCAF (MIA / KIA) Saint John, Canada Co-Pilot F/O Harry P. Willson, 120801 RAFVR (MIA / KIA) Clackmannanshire, Scotland Navigator P/O Charles W. Hamann, J/16456 RCAF (MIA / KIA) Ontario, Canada WOp/AG FSgt Hillyar R. Crust, 1253122 (MIA / KIA) Kent, UK AG FSgt Edward B. Gillespie, R/133826 RCAF (MIA / KIA) Toronto, Canada A/G FSgt Cyril R. MacGregor, 1271486 (MIA / KIA) Essex, UK AG Sgt Roland Morgan, 1187248 RAFVR (MIA / KIA) UK AG FSgt Thomas Leckey, 1023458 RAFVR (MIA / KIA) Belfast, Northern Ireland MIA October 26, 1943 Aircraft History Built by Consolidated Aircraft Corporation at Fort Worth, Texas. Constructors Number 123. Delivered to the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) as B-24D-CF Liberator serial number 41-11627. Wartime History On August 7, 1942 delivered to the Royal Air Force (RAF) as a Liberator III serial number FL926 at Dorval Airfield in Canada. On August 17, 1942 departs Dorval Airfield on a flight bound for the United Kingdom. On August 19, 1942 arrives Prestwick Airfield in Scotland. This bomber was to go to 1445 Flight but the assignment was canceled. On October 2, 1942 assigned to 20 Maintenance Unit (20 MU). On January 25, 1943 assigned to No. 160 Squadron with code J. On March 20, 1943 assigned to 301 FTU (301 FTU) for the ferry flight via India to Ceylon. Returned No. 160 Squadron for long range photographic reconnaissance missions. On September 20, 1943 this Liberator flew its first combat mission. Mission History On October 26, 1943 at 5:44am took off from Sigiriya Airfield on Ceylon piloted by F/O W. A. Wallace on a photographic reconnaissance mission over the Nicobar Islands. At 11:00am arrived over the target area at Lat 9°10' N, Long 92°45' E. At 11:09am transmitted its call sign with one 30 second dash. When this bomber failed to return it was officially listed as Missing In Action (MIA). In fact, intercepted by A6M Zero from 331 Kokutai (Air Group) that pursued the bomber for about 40 minutes and shot it down. Afterwards, a Japanese reported this B-24 was shot down over the Nicobar Islands. Memorials The entire crew was officially declared dead the day of the mission. Wallace is memorialized at Kranji War Cemetery on the Singapore Memorial on panel 429. Willson is memorialized at Kranji War Cemetery on the Singapore Memorial on panel 424. Hamann is memorialized at Kranji War Cemetery on the Singapore Memorial on panel 429. Crust is memorialized at Kranji War Cemetery on the Singapore Memorial on panel 425. Gillespie is memorialized at Kranji War Cemetery on the Singapore Memorial on panel 430. MacGregor is memorialized at Kranji War Cemetery on the Singapore Memorial on panel 425. Morgan is memorialized at Kranji War Cemetery on the Singapore Memorial on panel 425 Leckey is memorialized at Kranji War Cemetery on the Singapore Memorial on panel 425. He also has a memorial marker at Dundonald Cemetery in Belfast in Northern Ireland on his parents grave. References Some sources list as Liberator GR.V incorrectly. USAF Serial Number Search Results - B-24D-CO Liberator 41-11627 "11627 to RAF as Liberator III FL926. Missing Car Nicobar, Bay of Bengal Oct 26, 1943." RAF Commands - Liberator III FL926 CWGC - Walter A. Wallace FindAGrave - Flying Officer Walter Allison Wallace (photos) CWGC - Harry P. Willson FindAGrave - Flying Officer Harry Patrick Willson (Singapore Memorial photo) CWGC - Charles William Hamann FindAGrave - Flying Officer Charles William Hamann (photo, Singapore Memorial photo) CWGC - Hillyar R. Crust FindAGrave - Flight Sergeant Hillyar Raymond Crust (Singapore Memorial photo) CWGC - Edward B. Gillespie FindAGrave - Flight Sergeant Edward Bruce Gillespie (photo, Singapore Memorial photo) FindAGrave - Flight Sergeant Edward Bruce Gillespie (memorial marker photo) CWGC - Cyril R. MacGregor FindAGrave - Sergeant Cyril Raymond MacGregor (Singapore Memorial photo) CWGC - Roland Morgan FindAGrave - Sergeant Roland Morgan (Singapore Memorial) CWGC - Thomas Leckey FindAGrave - Flight Sergeant Thomas Leckey (Singapore Memorial) FindAGrave - Thomas Leckey (memorial marker photo) The Liberator in RAF and Commonwealth Service (2007) mentions this loss Zeros Over the Bay of Bengal 1943–1944 by Richard Dunn Contribute Information Are you a relative or associated with any person mentioned? Do you have photos or additional information to add? Last Updated December 25, 2025 |
 B-24  MIA 8 Missing |
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