Neil Conway BURGESS

Serial Number: NZ4212641
RNZAF Trade: Navigator
Date of Enlistment: 1942
Rank Achieved: Flight Sergeant
Flying Hours: 248 hours
Operational Sorties: Nil Ops

Date of Birth:
Personal Details: Neil Burgess was the son of Conway and Elsie Gladys Burgess, of Karapiro, Cambridge

Service Details: Neil trained as a Navigator and was attached to the Royal Air Force in England. He and his crew were training on Short Stirling bombers with No. 1651 Heavy Conversion Unit at the time of his death.

Date of Death : On the 19th of October 1944, Neil was the Navigator aboard Short Stirling III, serial LK488, ona low level cross country training exercise. The aircaft strayed west of its intended course by 35 miles, while crosing the Pennines in poor visibility. At 03.15hrs the aircraft flew into the summit of Mickle Fell, seven miles east-north-east of Appleby-in-Westmoreland. The aircraft disintegrated and burned, and six of the seven crew members were killed, including Neil. aged 21
Buried: Section H. Row A. Grave 19 at Harrogate (Stonefall) Cemetery, Yorkshire, UK

Connection with Cambridge: Neil grew up and lived at Karapiro, in the Cambridge district

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