Land, Charles Richard Died
Personal Information
| Rank | Sgt |
| Forename(s) | Charles Richard |
| Surname | Land |
| Gender | M |
| Age | 36 |
| Date of Death | 04-02-1943 |
| Next of Kin | Son of James Herbert Land and Beatrice Maria Land (née Whall), of Taverham. Husband of Margaret Maud Land (née Lanman), of New Costessey. Date of marriage 29 November 1932 at All Saints Church, Weston Longville, Norfolk. His father was a Baker. In 1939 Charles and Margaret were living at The Bakery, Heath Road, Lyng, Mitford, Norfolk where Charles is shown as a Master Baker and Grocer. Margaret died on 29 July 1950 living in Dereham Road, New Costessey, Norfolk. |
Aircraft Information
| Aircraft | Avro Lancaster lll |
| Serial Number | ED496 |
| Markings | WS-P |
Memorial Information
| Burial/Memorial Country | United Kingdom |
| Burial/Memorial Place | Weston Longville (All Saints) Churchyard |
| Grave Reference | Grave 13. |
| Epitaph | THY WILL BE DONE |
IBCC Memorial Information
| Phase | 1 |
| Panel Number | 61 |
Enlistment Information
| Service Number | 1332099 |
| Service | Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve |
| Group | 5 |
| Squadron | 9 (IX) |
| Squadron Motto | Per noctem volamus (Through out the night we fly) |
| Trade | Pilot |
| Country of Origin | United Kingdom |
Other Memorials
| Location | Village Green, Bardney, Lincolnshire |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Memorial Type | Stone Memorial, Propeller and Plaque |
| Memorial Text | In memory of the killed or missing of IX Sqd. 1939 - 1945 |
| Location | Inside former Control Tower, Bardney airfield, Bardney, Lincolnshire |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Memorial Type | Inscribed metal plaque |
| Memorial Text | To the memory of the men and women of No 9 Sqn RAF Bardney |
| Location | In front of the mess esplanade, Mailly-le-Camp, 10 - Aube Prefecture |
| Country | France |
| Memorial Type | Stone memorial sculpture, inscribed marble tablets and inscribed metal plaque |
| Memorial Text |
En souvenir des heros de la RAF. Qui ont participe au bombardment du camp de Mailly. Unites de la RAF engagees dans le raid sur Mailly-le-Camp, la nuit du 3 au 4 May 1944. N° 9-12-44-49-50-57 61-83-97-100-101 Special Duties Flight-103-105-106-166- 169-192-207-460 (RAAF)-463 (RAAF)-467 (RAAF)-550-576-617- 619-625-626-627-630
Translation "In memory of the RAF heroes who took part in the bombing of Mailly Camp. RAF units engaged in the raid on Mailly-le-Camp, the night of 3-4 May 1944. Squadrons that took part: N° 9-12-44-49-50-57 61-83-97-100-101 Special Duties Flight-103-105-106-166- 169-192-207-460 (RAAF)-463 (RAAF)-467 (RAAF)-550-576-617-619-625-626-627-630" |
Miscellaneous Information
| The crew had only been on the squadron 2 days, having arrived from 1661CU on 2 January 1943. |
| Born 9 October 1907. Charles married Margaret Muad Lanman on 29/11/1932 at All Saints Church, Weston Longville, Norfolk. His Dad was a Baker, in 1939 Charles & Margaret were living at The Bakery, Heath Road, Lyng, Mitford, Norfolk, Charles is shown as a Master Baker & Grocer, Margaret died on 29/7/1950 living in Dereham Road, New Costessey, Norfolk. |
The National Archives
| Record of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/127/4 |
| Summary of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/127/4 |
Fellow Servicemen
Please note that this list gives all the losses aboard the quoted aircraft and occasionally these may have occurred on an earlier date when the aircraft was not itself lost. Please check the dates of death carefully.
| Name | Outcome |
|---|---|
| Gullery H F (Sgt) | Died |
| Levesque J T (F/S) | Died |
| McGonigal F V (Sgt) | Died |
| Packer R J (Sgt) | Died |
Last Operation Information
| Start Date | 04-02-1943 |
| End Date | 04-02-1943 |
| Takeoff Station | Waddington |
| Day/Night Raid | Day |
| Operation | Air Test |
| Reason for Aircraft Loss | Aircraft took off from Waddington to carry out an Air Test. At 1600 hrs the aircraft crashed at Young's Farm Scopwick killing all on board. The Accident Investigations Branch suggested that the crash may have been due to structural failure, although the aircraft was only delivered new on 21 January 43 and had flown only 1hr 40 mins including this fateful flight of 35mins. |