George and Godfrey Weston

SQUADRON LEADER

G.E. WESTON DFC

PILOT

ROYAL AIR FORCE

1ST OCTOBER 1942 AGE 23

 

426183 FLIGHT SERGEANT

G.R. WESTON

AIR BOMBER

ROYAL N.Z. AIR FORCE

20TH APRIL 1944 AGE 22

 

The parents of the Weston brothers were George, from a Hemblington farming family, and Francis Lesley. George and Francis moved to Peterborough and were involved in the retail shoe trade.

George Earnest Weston was born in Peterborough on 29th. March 1919. He was baptised in All Saints church at Hemblington on 1st. June 1919.

The family emigrated to New Zealand where George Snr established a shoe retailing business in Lawrence on the South Island. Godfrey Randell Weston was born on 5th. October 1921 at Dunedin.

Both sons received their secondary educated at Lawrence District High School, where they excelled at sports. George became junior tennis champion at Victoria University in Wellington.

 

 

Until 1938 George was employed as a clerk in the Public Works Department, but the successfully applied for a Short Service Commission in the RAF.

He was posted to the Reserve Flying School at White Waltham for his preliminary flight training. On 10th. August 1939 he was awarded his wings and promoted to Pilot Officer.

After further training on Anson and Hampden aircraft he was posted to 50 Squadron at RAF Lindholme, Yorkshire. Piloting Hudson bombers he flew 19 operational missions including an attack on a German cruiser squadron in the harbour at Brest, France, for which he was awarded the Distinguished Flying Medal.

"One night in February 1941, Flying Officer Weston was detailed to attack an enemy vessel lying in the dock at Brest. Owing to extreme darkness and exceptional searchlight and anti-aircraft opposition great difficulty was encounter locating the target. Although is starboard engine failed, Flying Officer Weston persisted in his search and in the face of an increasingly heavy and accurate barrage, eventually located his target and pressed home his attack with a full load of bombs. On the return journey over the English Channel, his engine picked up but failed again. By skilful handling of his aircraft, however, he succeeded in reaching his base where he landed in safety. He displayed outstanding gallantry, skill and determination throughout."

London Gazette, 14th. March 1941.

 

After further training he returned to 50 Squadron, where he carried out another 9 operational flights. In May 1941 he moved to 5 Tow Target Flight at RAF Conningsby, and the in August he moved to RAF Scampton where he served as CO Flying, 5 Group Flying Training Flight. It was about this time he was promoted to Squadron Leader.

 

In November 1941 George was posted to 44 (Rhodesia) Squadron at RAF Waddington. It was here he flew Lancaster raids over Germany and France.

July 1942 saw him move to 61 Squadron at RAF Syerston, and then on loan to Coastal Command at RAF St. Eval, Cornwall, for anti-submarine operations in the Bay of Biscay. On returning to Syerston George completed another 11 operations.

 

Tasked on 1st. October 1942 to attack Wismar, Germany, George was piloting Lancaster Mk. 1, serial number R3703, coded QR-D. Taking from RAF Syerston at 17.45 hrs, the aircraft was barely airborne when the immersion switch on the emergency dingy short circuited causing the dingy to activate and break free from its stowage in the starboard wing. The dingy fouled the controls to the tailplane, causing the Lancaster to entered into a dive resulting in a crash north-east of Gunthorpe, Nottinghamshire. As the aircraft was fully loaded with fuel and bombs there were no survivors from the 7 man crew.

At the time of his death, aged 23, George had logged at total of 1,230 flying hours.

 

 

After leaving school Godfrey was employed as a shop assistant and bookkeeper in his father's business.

In April 1942 Godfrey made an application for war service with the RNZAF. His records show he enlisted on 30th. May 1942.

 

He was employed on ground duties at RNZFA station Woodbourne while awaiting his aircrew training. On 1st. October, as a Air Observer Under Training, he was sent to the Initial Training Wing at Rotorua. On 24th. December 1942 he embarked for Canada under the Empire Air Training Scheme.

 

In Alberta he trained in bombing and gunnery, gaining his flying badge and promotion to Sergeant. After a few weeks in Halifax, Nova Scotia, awaiting embarkation to Britain, he arrived at 12 Personnel Reception Centre at Brighton. He was then posted to 9 (Observer) Advanced Flying Unit at Penrhos, Wales, before being posted to 11 Operational Training Unit (OTU) at Westcott and later at Oakley, where he completed his training on Wellington bombers.

Godfrey was promoted to Flight Sergeant on 11th. December 1943, and in March 1943 he was posted to 1657 Heavy Conversion Unit at Stradishall, Suffolk, to convert onto Sterling bombers.

 

On 20th. April 1944 Godfrey was the bomb aimer aboard Stirling Mk. 1, serial number R9353, that was on a night flying exercise that included practicing circuits and landing. At 03:12 hrs. the aircraft bounced heavily on landing, and while attempting to overshoot and go around again the pilot, NZ/421847 Flt. Sgt. John Gold, opened the throttles but the port wing dipped and within seconds the Stirling dived into the ground at Stradishall airfield, killing 4 New Zealanders and 1 RAFVR. Sgt. P.F. Hudson, RNZAF, air gunner survived with slight injuries.

At the time of his death, aged 22, Godfrey had logged 264 flying hours.

 

 

Because of George and Godfrey's connections with Hemblington it was the family's wish that they should be buried together in All Saints churchyard, Hemblington, both being commemorated on a single CWGC headstone of Portland stone.

Done