LEST WE FORGET
Flight Sergeant Mervyn Byron FETTELL
Service No: 12174
Born: Goulburn NSW, 14 June 1916
Enlisted in the RAAF: 5 February 1940
Unit: No. 27 Operational Training Unit (RAF), RAF Station Lichfield
Died: Aircraft Accident (No. 27 Operational Training Unit Wellington aircraft BJ845), Gloucestershire, 17 June 1943, Aged 27 Years
Buried: Cirencester Cemetery, Gloucestershire
CWGC Additional Information: Son of Byron Atkins Smith Fettell and Margaret Fettell, husband of Joyce Doris Eleanor Fettell of Earlwood, New South Wales, Australia
Roll of Honour: Hurlstone Park NSW
Remembered: Panel 122, Commemorative Area, Australian War Memorial, Canberra ACT
Remembered: St Stephen’s WWll Memorial Window, St Stephanos Greek Orthodox Church, Hurlston Park
On the 16 June 1943Wellington BJ845 took off from Lichfield for a night cross country exercise. While over Gloucestershire, the aircraft collided in mid-air with No. 1656 Heavy Conversion Unit Lancaster ED381. The Wellington crashed at 0150 hours near Bibury, 7 miles north east of Cirencester. Flight Sergeant Fettell was killed while the other crew members successfully abandoned the aircraft. The crew were carrying out their first night solo cross-country exercise. The crew members of the Lancaster were all killed.
The crew members of BJ845 were:
Sergeant (later Flying Officer) Reginald William Elton Bennett DFC (412362) (Navigator) Baled out, Discharged from the RAAF: 1 July 1947
Flight Sergeant Mervyn Byron Fettell (12174) (Pilot)
Sergeant (later Flying Officer) Robert Mackay Hilliard DFC (409832) (Bomb Aimer) Baled out, Discharged from the RAAF: 7 September 1945
Sergeant R Morrison (RAF) (Wireless Air Gunner) Baled out
Sergeant W Shapley (RAF) (Air Gunner) Baled out
Sergeant Watt (RAF) (Air Gunner) Baled out
The crew members of No. 1656 Heavy Conversion Unit Lancaster ED381were:
Sergeant Michael Raymond Jack Arthurs (613886) (RAF)
Sergeant Mathew Parkinson Brown (1347708) (RAFVR) (Pilot)
Sergeant Michael Gardner (1399174) (RAFVR)
Sergeant Alexander John McKenzie (1367442) (RAFVR)
Sergeant Eric Peter Stewart (1722688) (RAFVR)
Sergeant Alan Michael Terence David Temple-Murray (1336557) (RAFVR)
Sergeant John Smith Whitehead (1313044) (RAFVR)
The following extract from Bomber Command Routine Orders issued by Air Chief Marshall, Sir A T Harris, KCB, OBE, AFC, tells the story of Mervyn Fettel: “Flight Sergeant Fettell was the pilot and Captain of a Wellington aircraft engaged on night flying operations. While flying at a height of 1,000 feet, his aircraft collided with a Lancaster aircraft. The collision caused the starboard engine of the Wellington aircraft to droop and later became detached. A large hole was made in the bottom of the fuselage, and all electrical equipment failed. The impact forced the forward hatch to open.
The Captain ordered the crew to abandon the aircraft. Flight Sergeant Fettell with the utmost coolness checked the equipment of two of his crew before baling out and assured himself that the remainder of the crew were preparing to abandon the aircraft.
He then discovered that his own parachute was missing, and despite the knowledge that he must remain with the aircraft, Flight Sergeant Fettell with cool, calculated courage and a sense of duty continued to personally supervise the fitting of parachutes and harness of the remainder of the crew. Flight Sergeant Fettell then attempted to land the aircraft, the starboard engine having broken completely away, but unfortunately he overshot the runway and crashed into trees with fatal results. Flight Sergeant Fettell’s parachute had been resting on the second pilot’s seat prior to the impact, and it must have fallen out when the forward entry hatch was forced open by the collision. The cool courage and sense of duty displayed by Flight Sergeant Fettell was of the highest order.”
Flight Sergeant Bennett who lived close to Flight Sergeant Fettell later said: “I had just spoken to the Bomb Aimer when I felt a terrific impact, followed by a violent lurch. The Intercom was dead and I commenced to go forward when I heard Flight Sergeant Fettell ordered the crew to bale out. I rushed back, put on my parachute and told the rest of the crew to do likewise. I was having trouble in attaching my pack but went forward. Flight Sergeant Fettell then asked me to find his parachute. I groped about in the darkness trying to do so, but was unsuccessful. As I searched I found that the front escape hatch had been forced open, and guessed that Flight Sergeant Fettell’s pack had fallen out, and I told him. The aircraft was lurching badly and Flight Sergeant Fettell was struggling to regain control. In spite of this he asked to see my parachute and made sure it was securely attached. He then told me to bale out. I jumped, and soon after I pulled my rip cord I commenced to swing violently and when another aircraft flashed close by me, I guessed I was in the vicinity of the aerodrome. I landed in a blackthorn hedge and was not hurt apart from a slight cut on my forehead, and I was very worried about the rest of the crew. I had to wait until the next morning before learning they were all safe except Flight Sergeant Fettell. I know that but for his wonderful nerve and skill none of us would be alive. He was a magnificent pilot and equally magnificent chap.” Sergeant Bennett was later commissioned, and was awarded the DFC.
Flight Sergeant Hilliard (of Hawthorn, Victoria) the Bob Aimer, who was the last to leave the aircraft stated: “At the time of the crash I had started to come forward when Bennett told me to fasten my parachute and bale out. However, I went back to view the damage. The starboard engine was nearly out of its mountings and there was a big gap in the fuselage. Flight Sergeant Fettell asked me to make another search for his parachute. The spare gunner and I searched with our torches but were unable to find the parachute, which had obviously fallen out. He told the gunner to leave but before doing so inspected his rip cord and straps. The gunner then baled out. I stayed with Mervyn several more minutes, shining torches on the instrument panel in an endeavour to help. But we were losing height rapidly and both engines had by now cut out, he told me to bale out. I asked him what he intended doing and he replied he would try and make a landing somewhere.
There was nothing left for me to do and I said “Good Luck Merv”, to which he replied “I’ll need it.” It was just like him and before I left he insisted I shine the torch on my parachute and make certain of its security. As I pulled the ripcord one of the engines flew past me. Then the aircraft followed in a steep glide. There was not one second of panic from the moment of the crash, which was entirely due to Flight Sergeant Fettell’s complete control of the situation. I know we owe our lives to the courage and control of Merv. He was a grand chap and I personally feel that I have lost not only a wizard Pilot but a wizard pal.” Sergeant Hilliard was later commissioned and served with No. 466 Squadron (RAAF) and No. 35 Squadron (RAF) and was awarded the DFC
References:
Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour On-Line Records (RAAF Casualty Information compiled by Alan Storr (409804))
Commonwealth War Graves Commission On-Line Records
Department of Veterans’ Affairs On-Line WWII Nominal Roll
National Archives of Australia On-Line Record A705, 166/13/72
Register of War Memorials in New South Wales On-Line