THE CREW OF WELLINGTON LP981 ON A TRAINING FLIGHT ON 13TH APRIL 1945
The following crew died when LP981 crashed:
Pilot:
P-782840 Senior Sergeant (ST. Sierz) Leon Trzebiatowski, Polish Air Force aged 25.
Instructor:
1314386 W/O. Harold Harris, W.Op./Air Gnr. Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, aged 24.
Trainee:
1824294 Sgt. Michael Francis Brennan, W.Op, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, aged 21.
Trainee:
1594311 Sgt. Norman Richard Drake, W.Op, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, aged 19.
Trainee:
2209933 Sgt. Ronald Walker McMillan, W.Op, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, aged 20.
The following crew were injured when LP981 crashed:
Trainee:
Sgt J. Edward Bedell, W.Op, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve.
Trainee:
2221770 Sgt R. A. Bembridge, W.Op, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve.
Leon Trzebiatowski was born on 22.10.1919 in Poland. Before joining 10 AGS he was awarded The Order Wojenny Virtuti Militari (War Order of Virtuti Militari) (Latin for "For Military Valour") which is Poland's highest military decoration for heroism and courage in the face of the enemy at war.
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Leon Trzebiatowski (Picture courtesy of www.aircrewremembered.com) (click to enlarge) |
This photograph was taken in 2008 by Robert's daughter while researching the plane crash.
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L Trzebiatowski's Grave Stone (click to enlarge) |
W/O Harris is buried in Varteg, Monmouthshire, Methodist Chapel yard.
Sgt Brennan is buried in Heworth (St Mary), Durham, Church yard.
Sgt Drake is buried in Newcastle-Upon-Tyne Crematorium.
Sgt McMillan is mentioned on the Rynnymede Memorial, Surrey.
The crash is mentioned on page 594 of Flight Magazine, November 29th 1945, under SERVICE AVIATION
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KILLED ON ACTIVE SERVICE
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The names of the crew were sourced from The RAF Commands Forum and further details were obtained from the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.
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