Alexander Grant

Wellington X LN601 lost on 'Nickel Operation'. No survivors. Fatalities: Harold Winthrop Johnson (P), Oscar Geoffreij De Jongh (N), Kenneth Ross Fallowdine (W/Op), Alexander Grant (AB), John Gordon Brassington (AG)

‘The crew were to take part in a “nickel operation” over St Nazaire. This involved dropping leaflets as part of the propaganda war and was a common sortie for RAF crews.

Flight Lieutenant Brassington was the gunnery leader for the unit and decided he would fly with the crew on this particular operation as the mid-upper gunner. He would gain two things by this. Firstly, he would be able to observe how an air gunner under his instruction and be able to cast doubt on his experience because it would be both current and gained live on operational duties. Secondly he would be able to maintain his operational experience. As a result of this, his credibility would be assured as no one would be able to cast doubt on his experience because it would be both current and gained live on operational duties.

The aircraft took off and climbed away from the airfield, reaching 800 feet. The locking ring on one of the propeller shafts came off, causing a reverse pitch effect by the propeller which led to engine failure. The struggle with the controls was brief and the aircraft dived vertically into the ground near Kneesall Lodge at Norwell Woodhouse. It exploded and caught fire upon impact; there was no chance of any survivors and the full fuel load prevented retrieval of bodies for some time.

The crew are buried at Ollerton Cemetery except for John Brassington who was interred at St Mary and All Saints at Trentham, Staffordshire.’
David Needham, Nottinghamshire Air Crashes, (Ashbourne, Landmark Publications: 2008 p.115)

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