Roll of Honour

The 120 Squadron Roll of Honour commemorates all Squadron members who have made the ultimate sacrifice, giving their lives in the course of their duties while a member of CXX and on duty with the Squadron, and are thus included on the Rolls of Honour of either the Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC), or the Armed Forces Memorial of the UK (AFM) or their home nation. It includes members of other units who were lost while flying as supernumerary crew or passengers on 120 Squadron aircraft, who are considered Honorary Members by both the Squadron and the Association. Ranks are shown as listed in the official memorial records, which in a small number of cases includes posthumous promotion where it was formally awarded.
THEIR NAMES LIVE FOR EVERMORE
2Lt John Armstrong Lt Edmund Sydney Howells	27 March 1918 Cramlington Aircraft accident involving Armstrong Whitworth FK3 serial A1505 The aircraft crashed into the ground from 700 ft. The court was unable to determine whether this was due to breakage of the elevator control cable or some other reason.	CWGC – John Armstrong RAF Museum Story Vault – Edmund Sydney Howells CWGC – Edmund Sydney Howells
2Lt Richard Arthur Henry Brittain Maj Philip James Vaughan Lavarack	15 May 1918 Cramlington Aircraft accident involving Royal Aircraft Factory RE8 serial B8902 The aircraft’s engine lost power shortly after take-off, and the aircraft stalled in a turn at 80 ft.	CWGC – Richard Arthur Henry Brittain RAF Museum Story Vault – Philip James Vaughan Lavarack CWGC – Philip James Vaughan Lavarack
2Lt Corbett Wiley Morris	30 November 1918 Eastchurch Aircraft accident involving Sopwith Camel F1 serial F4193 The aircraft crashed near its base at 204 Training Depot Station, RAF Eastchurch; the cause is unknown.	CWGC – Corbett Wiley Morris RAF Museum Story Vault – Corbett Wiley Morris Service Record – Corbett Wiley Morris 2Lt Morris was a Canadian officer who initially trained at the School of Aerial Gunnery in Beamsville, Ontario, before continuing his training with 204 Training Depot Station (TDS) at RAF Eastchurch. His service record shows that he had been assigned to 120 Sqn effective 8 November 1918, but he was still at Eastchurch when he crashed in an aircraft belonging to 204 TDS, and he was buried nearby.
AC2 Alfred John Watkins	22 July 1941 Ballykelly Fatal accident while driving a tractor on duty on the perimeter track.	CWGC – Alfred John Watkins
Sgt Douglas James Bartell Sgt David Clark Sgt Robert Henry Dear Sgt Roland William Magson Fg Off James Wood Rae	10 December 1941 Stirling Aircraft accident involving Consolidated Liberator GR1 serial AM926 (F/120) The aircraft struck the Ochill Hills near Alva, 4 miles east of Stirling, in low visibility with no witnesses. It may have been descending through cloud to determine its position.	CWGC – Douglas James Bartell CWGC – David Clark CWGC – Robert Henry Dear CWGC – Roland William Magson CWGC – James Wood Rae
Plt Off William Morton Densham Plt Off Philip George Fuller Sgt Albert Alfred Middleton Sgt Page Welford	18 February 1942 Nutts Corner Aircraft accident involving Consolidated Liberator GR1 serial AM925 (X/120) The aircraft failed to attain a sufficient rate of climb on departure, likely due to an error of judgement by failing to use flaps. It struck a radio mast and came down in fields. 3 crew were killed instantly, while Plt Off Densham died of his injuries 2 days later in Belfast. The remaining 5 crew were injured but survived.	CWGC – William Morton Densham CWGC – Philip George Fuller CWGC – Albert Alfred Middleton CWGC – Page Welford
Sgt James Frank Gooder	4 May 1942 Nutts Corner Aircraft accident involving Consolidated Liberator GR2 serial AL558 (B/120) The pilot extended the downwind leg too far while conducting local night flying, and struck the summit of Divis Mountain when turning crosswind. The remaining 3 crew were injured but survived.	CWGC – James Frank Gooder
FS Edwin Arthur Allgood FS Terence John Culnane Sgt Brian Frank Smith	28 May 1942 Norwegian Sea Enemy action involving Consolidated Liberator GR1 serial AM924 (D/120) The aircraft was attacked by 3 Me109s, which killed FS Allgood and Sgt Smith with gunfire and disabled three engines. The aircraft ditched some 50 miles south-west of the Lofoten Islands, and the remaining 5 crewmembers made it into dinghies. FS Culnane died from burns, cold and exhaustion after 2 days, while the remaining 4 crewmembers reached land in Occupied Norway. Over the course of the next 5 weeks and with the help of several locals they successfully evaded Nazi occupying forces and escaped to Sweden.	National Archives – AIR 81/14582 CWGC – Edwin Arthur Allgood CWGC – Terence John Culnane CWGC – Brian Frank Smith
Sgt Harold Brown FS Robert Cameron Sgt Peter John Donoghue Sgt Sidney Edward Thomas Harcourt Sgt Eric Henry Hulatt Sgt Victor Stephen Marsh Sgt Gordon Miller Plt Off Alan Pattison	12 August 1942 Atlantic Ocean Aircraft accident involving Consolidated Liberator GR3 serial FK235 (N/120) The aircraft was escorting convoy ON(S) 120 and crashed when the port wing touched the sea while executing a low-level turn.	CWGC – Harold Brown CWGC – Robert Cameron CWGC – Peter John Donoghue CWGC – Sidney Edward Thomas Harcourt CWGC – Eric Henry Hulatt CWGC – Victor Stephen Marsh CWGC – Gordon Miller CWGC – Alan Pattison
Sgt Seymour Clare FS Alfred Burton Craig Plt Off Victor Dennis James FS Kenneth Henry Watson	13 August 1942 Atlantic Ocean Aircraft accident involving Consolidated Liberator GR3A serial LV341 (Z/120) The aircraft ditched approximately 37 miles WSW of Tory Island while returning from an ASW/SAR patrol following receipt of a distress call from an unidentified ship, initially (but erroneously) believed to be the SS Letitia. All engines failed in flight for undetermined reasons, possibly some combination of a fuel leak, munitions accident, and pilot error. 6 of the 8 crew escaped from the sinking fuselage, but 2 of those drowned before the dinghies were inflated. The remaining 4 were rescued by the trawler Glenogil.	CWGC – Seymour Clare CWGC – Alfred Burton Craig CWGC – Victor Dennis James CWGC – Kenneth Henry Watson Peter Clare, the son of Sgt Seymour “Billy” Clare, is the CXX Association’s historian, an honorary member, and has been instrumental in the compilation of the Squadron’s WWII history and this Roll of Honour. Peter has gifted to the Squadron an oar from the dinghy that was originally presented to him by Sgt Bill Gordon, one of the survivors, in memory of his father. This oar is presently displayed in the Squadron Crewroom. Peter has written a more detailed account of the accident on this site at The-search-for-SS-LETITIA-and-the-Loss-of-Liberator-MkIIIA-serial-No-LV341.pdf
Sgt Robert Ainslie Fg Off Michael Francis Dear Plt Off Albert Benjamin Gomperts Gp Capt Harry King Goode Sgt Charles Humphrey Sgt Arnolous Bothma Meyer Sgt Ivan Victor McQuay Sgt Thomas William Taylor	21 August 1942 County Antrim Aircraft accident involving Consolidated Liberator GR3A serial LV340 (X/120) The aircraft was on an air test when, in conditions of low cloud or sea mist, it crashed into Big Trosk, near Carnlough.	CWGC – Robert Ainslie CWGC – Michael Francis Dear CWGC – Albert Benjamin Gomperts CWGC – Harry King Goode CWGC – Charles Humphrey CWGC – Arnolous Bothma Meyer CWGC – Ivan Victor McQuay CWGC – Thomas William Taylor
Fg Off Allan Henry Wood	25 October 1942 Torquay Enemy action Killed in an enemy attack while a patient at the RAF Officers’ Convalescent Hospital in Torquay. Despite the Hospital having a large red cross painted on the roof, it was attacked by 4 Focke-Wulf 190s, killing 14 RAF officers, 5 staff, and 2 members of the Home Guard.	CWGC – Allan Henry Wood Australian War Memorial RoH – Allan Henry Wood Casualty Record Card – Allan Henry Wood
WO Norman William Robins	3 November 1942 Ballykelly Aircraft accident involving Consolidated Liberator GR2 serial AL519 (S/120) The aircraft struck Dunbrock Mountain, 5½ miles southwest of RAF Ballykelly, during night flying practice. The Court of Inquiry commented that WO Robins, the pilot, may have been distracted by difficulty retracting the undercarriage. The sole other crewmember was injured but survived.	CWGC – Norman William Robins
FS John Gibson Benson Cpl John Dennis Cole WO Peter Lawrence Brooks Ellis LAC Maurice Ian Kidd FS George Frederick Denis Lowrison Cpl Henry Thomas Mills Flt Lt Francis Henry Salt Sgt William Stanfield Fg Off William John Wright	9 January 1943 Reykjavík Aircraft accident involving Consolidated Liberator GR1 serial AM921 (B/120) The aircraft caught fire and crashed shortly after take-off due to a fuel leak. It came to rest on a gravel heap with the fuselage forward of the wings on fire. Four crewmembers and 5 passengers lost their lives and are buried at the Fossvogur Cemetary in Reykjavík. The remaining 3 crewmembers and 4 passengers were injured but survived.	CWGC – John Gibson Benson CWGC – John Dennis Cole CWGC – Peter Lawrence Brooks Ellis CWGC – Maurice Ian Kidd CWGC – George Frederick Denis Lowrison CWGC – Henry Thomas Mills CWGC – Francis Henry Salt CWGC – William Stanfield CWGC – William John Wright National Archives – AIR 81/20746
Flt Lt John Nigel Grey Bruce Flt Lt Albert Leslie Furr Wg Cdr Richard Maitland Longmore WO Ernest Arthur Mincham FS Arthur Edward Parsons WO William Stott Fg Off Robert Wood Tait Fg Off Francis Maxwell Webber	4 October 1943 Atlantic Ocean Enemy action involving Consolidated Liberator GR3 serial FL923 (V/120) The aircraft took heavy flak while running in to attack U-539 with depth charges. Both starboard engines caught fire, and it crashed into the ocean.	CWGC – John Nigel Grey Bruce CWGC – Albert Leslie Furr CWGC – Richard Maitland Longmore CWGC – Ernest Arthur Mincham CWGC – Arthur Edward Parsons CWGC – William Stott CWGC – Robert Wood Tait CWGC – Francis Maxwell Webber German records state that FL923, mistakenly identified as a Lancaster, was sighted at 1123hrs when 7-8000m away, approaching at an altitude of 800 metres. All the U-boat’s flak guns, consisting of two twin and one quadruple 200mm, were immediately crewed and fire was opened. Despite heavy flak the aircraft circled, drawing slowly closer to the U-boat, until at 1138hrs it ran in to the attack, returning fire with cannon when at a range of 1000m. Although hit several times, the aircraft pressed home the attack, dropping 6 depth charges that fell ahead of the port bow at a distance of between 10 and 159 metres, shaking the U-boat violently. Both the aircraft’s starboard engines were seen to have caught fire and shortly afterwards it came down, exploding on impact with the water. The captain, Wg Cdr Longmore, was the Sqn’s Officer Commanding at the time, and is the only of 120 Sqn’s OCs to have been lost on operations.
LAC Arthur Smurthwaite Owston	25 October 1943 Hartlepool Kidney failure LAC “Bob” Owston died in Cameron Hospital in his home town of Hartlepool, aged 23. He had been admitted for nephritis and uremia.	CWGC – Arthur S Bob Owston
FS John Arthur Blair WO Harold Sidney Cruttenden FS Cyril Arthur Peatey FS Theophilus Pye Plt Off Charles Edward Towsley	13 July 1944 Malin Sea Aircraft accident involving Consolidated Liberator GR5 serial BZ910 (F/120) The aircraft ditched 4 miles from the island of Inishtrahull, after taking off from RAF Ballykelly on an anti-submarine patrol. 5 crewmembers died and 4 survived. The aircraft is believed to have stalled due to failure of the pilots to maintain required airspeed, with insufficient time to recover as it was flying at 400′ to remain below low cloud.	CWGC – John Arthur Blair CWGC – Harold Sidney Cruttenden CWGC – Cyril Arthur Peatey CWGC – Theophilus Pye CWGC – Charles Edward Towsley
FS Arthur Leslie Turnell	1 October 1944 Ballykelly Walked into a windmilling propeller after returning to RAF Ballykelly from an anti-submarine patrol.	CWGC – Arthur Leslie Turnell
Cpl Donald Leslie Pratt	15 June 1945 Kingston, Dorset Aircraft accident involving Consolidated Liberator C9 serial JT985 of 232 Sqn The aircraft reported problems with fuel pressure on departure from RAF Holmsley South in Hampshire, and was attempting to return to base when it lost height and crashed near Polar Wood.	CWGC – Donald Leslie Pratt Cpl Pratt of 120 Sqn was one of 22 ground crew on JT985 that were being flown out to Palam, India, to assist in the ongoing war in the Pacific following victory in Europe and cessation of hostilities the previous month.
Sgt Wilfred Davie Beck Sgt James Warren Bell Sgt Ralph Clucas FS George Farquhar FS James Naismith Flt Lt Harry Smith Reid Fg Off Robert Strong Flt Lt Peter Tennison	14 March 1951 Torridon Mountains Aircraft accident involving Avro Lancaster GR3 serial TX264 (D/120) The aircraft crashed into the northern side of Beinn Eighe while on a night navigation exercise that was intended to conclude with a bombing run at Tain. All 8 crewmembers died.	AFM – Wilfred Davie Beck AFM – James Warren Bell AFM – Ralph Clucas AFM – George Farquhar AFM – James Naismith AFM – Harry Smith Reid AFM – Robert Strong AFM – Peter Tennison The wreckage came to rest in a particularly inaccessible gully near the summit of the mountain, that the Mountain Rescue Teams (MRTs) of the time had difficulty accessing – so much so that the last crewmember’s remains were not recovered until 27 August. As a direct result of this incident, changes were made to RAF MRTs to ensure they all received training in both summer and winter climbing. One of the aircraft’s propellers was airlifted off the mountain by helicopter in 1985 and mounted outside the MRT base at RAF Kinloss as a memorial to both the crew, and to the importance of the accident in the history of the RAF Mountain Rescue Service. The memorial was relocated to the MRT base at RAF Lossiemouth in 2018.
Sgt Arthur Brown Flt Lt Joseph Leon Rodrique ‘Denis’ Fillion FS John Francis Gent Fg Off Keith Robert Gordon Flt Lt Frank Raymond Hollins Sqn Ldr Brian Campbell Letchford Lt Cdr Christopher Brian Schofield Flt Lt Edward Thomas Spicer Fg Off Peter John Stowell	19 November 1967 Celtic Sea Aircraft accident involving Avro Shackleton MR3 serial WR976 The aircraft stalled and crashed into the sea 190 nautical miles SW of RAF St Mawgan while simulating a low-level air raid on the frigate HMS BRIGHTON. The cause of the stall was believed to be insufficient airspeed for the manoeuvres made. 8 crewmembers and 1 passenger died; 2 crewmembers were quickly retrieved from the water by HMS BRIGHTON and survived.	AFM – Arthur Brown Canadian Virtual War Memorial – J L R Denis Fillion In the Service of Canada (1947 – 2014) Book of Remembrance – J L R Denis Fillion AFM – John Francis Gent AFM – Keith Robert Gordon AFM – Frank Raymond Hollins AFM – Brian Campbell Letchford AFM – Christopher Brian Schofield AFM – Edward Thomas Spicer AFM – Peter John Stowell The Shackletons had moved to centralised engineering at Kinloss with pooled aircraft in February 1967. WR976 had previously been assigned to 201 Sqn, which is why the crew is erroneously listed as a 201 Sqn crew in some publications.
Sgt Craig Barnett Flt Lt Nicholas Brooks Flt Lt Dominic Mark Gilbert Flt Lt Glenn Howard Hooper Sgt Gary Stephen Moxham Sgt Richard Lee Williams Flt Lt Bernard Worthington	2 September 1995 Lake Ontario Aircraft accident involving Hawker Siddeley/BAe Nimrod MR2 serial XV239 The aircraft stalled during a dumbbell turn in a flying display at the Canadian International Air Show in Toronto, at an altitude from which it was too low to recover, and crashed into Lake Ontario.	AFM – Craig Barnett AFM – Nicholas Brooks AFM – Dominic Mark Gilbert AFM – Glenn Howard Hooper AFM – Gary Stephen Moxham AFM – Richard Lee Williams AFM – Bernard Worthington Following the accident, changes were made to the selection, training, and supervision of display crews as well as to display procedures, which improved safety and ensured the accident would never be repeated. The final report from the Board of Inquiry has been compiled into a single document on this site at: 19960619-BoI_Nimrod_MR2_XV239_complete A memorial window dedicated to the crew of XV239 was previously installed in St Columba’s Church at RAF Kinloss, and is in the process of being relocated to St Aidan’s Church at RAF Lossiemouth. A memorial to the crews of XV256, XV239 and XV230 has been installed at the Morayvia Aviation Museum at Kinloss, the centrepiece of which is the tail fin of XV239 that was recovered from Lake Ontario.
FS Gary Wayne Andrews FS Stephen Beattie FS Gerard Martin Bell FS Adrian Davies Cpl Oliver Simon Dicketts Flt Lt Steven Johnson Sgt Benjamin James Knight Sgt John Joseph Langton Flt Lt Leigh Anthony Mitchelmore Flt Lt Gareth Rodney Nicholas Sgt Gary Paul Quilliam Flt Lt Allan James Squires Flt Lt Steven Swarbrick Mne Joseph David Windall	2 September 2006 Panjwā’ī District, Kandahār Province Aircraft accident involving Hawker Siddeley/BAe Nimrod MR2 serial XV230 The aircraft suffered an in-flight fire over Afghanistan as a result of a fuel leak of indeterminate origin, which came into contact with a hot air duct. The fuel may have exited overflow valves or air vents during air-to-air refuelling, and subsequently tracked back along the outside of the fuselage and re-entered the airframe near a hot air duct, or it may have leaked from a coupling in the fuel system. The crew attempted to divert to Kandahār Airfield, but the aircraft broke apart and experienced an explosion at low level, 14 nautical miles from the runway. The wreckage impacted the ground at 31°31’54″N 065°34’07″E, in between the villages of Chalghōr and Fatḩullāh and about 400m north-west of the latter.	AFM – Gary Wayne Andrews AFM – Stephen Beattie AFM – Gerard Martin Bell AFM – Adrian Davies AFM – Oliver Simon Dicketts AFM – Steven Johnson AFM – Benjamin James Knight AFM – John Joseph Langton AFM – Leigh Anthony Mitchelmore AFM – Gareth Rodney Nicholas AFM – Gary Paul Quilliam AFM – Allan James Squires AFM – Steven Swarbrick AFM – Joseph David Windall The final report from the Board of Inquiry has been compiled into a single document on this site at: 20071126-BoI_Nimrod_MR2_XV230_complete Following the publication of the Board of Inquiry’s report, the Government commissioned an independent review by Charles Haddon-Cave QC into the broader issues surrounding the accident. The Nimrod Review, available on this site at the link below, recommended sweeping changes to the MOD’s airworthiness regime. This resulted in the formalization of the Aviation Duty Holder construct and the creation of the Military Aviation Authority (MAA) to ensure the mistakes identified would not be made again. This safety model has now been extended to the rest of Defence, with the creation of the Defence Safety Authority as the MAA’s parent body. The Nimrod Review