LEST WE FORGET
Flight Sergeant John Percival HAYDEN
Service No: 429560
Born: Toowoomba QLD, 20 April 1918
Enlisted in the RAAF: 9 October 1942
Unit: No. 1660 Conversion Unit (RAF), RAF Station Swinderby
Died: Aircraft Accident (No. 1660 Conversion Unit Stirling aircraft EF246), Humber River, 29 January 1944, Aged 25 Years
Buried: Unrecovered
CWGC Additional Information: Son of Alexander Daniel Hayden, and nephew of Miss B. J. Hayden, of Toowoomba, Queensland, Australia
Roll of Honour: Unknown
Remembered: Panel 260, Runnymede Memorial, Surrey UK
Remembered: Panel 123, Commemorative Area, Australian War Memorial, Canberra ACT
At 2019 hours on 29 January 1944, Stirling EF246 took off from Swinderby on a night searchlight cooperation exercise. Shortly after 2200 hours EF246 came into the Hull area flying on a course due south flying at 15,000 feet and was illuminated by about 20 searchlights. The aircraft commenced violent evasive action, turning north, and diving appeared to be in distress with smoke seen coming from one side of the aircraft. All searchlights were doused with the aircraft at 8/9,000 feet. The aircraft continued diving with smoke and flames seen pouring from one engine. The aircraft dived straight into the Humber River at 2203 hours. The bodies of four of the crew members were recovered.
The crew members of EF246 were:
Pilot Officer Vernon Francis Dickinson (170952) (RAFVR) (Pilot under instruction)
Flight Lieutenant John Mortimer Greig DFC (133050) (RAFVR) (Staff Pilot)
Flight Sergeant John Percival Hayden (429560) (Rear Gunner)
Sergeant Derek Leonard Helsby (2209214) (RAFVR) (Mid Upper Gunner)
Flying Officer Edward Patrick Neary (139724) (RAFVR) (Air Bomber)
Sergeant Arthur Spence (1670414) (RAFVR) (Flight Engineer)
Sergeant Stanley Walker (658405) (RAF) (Wireless Operator Air)
Flight Sergeant Gwilym Jones Williams (651579) (RAF) (Navigator)
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, 166/17/465