Gow, James Serge
Personal Information
Rank | F/O |
Forename(s) | James Serge |
Surname | Gow |
Gender | M |
Age | 29 |
Decorations | |
Date of Death | 02-12-1952 |
Next of Kin | Husband of Mavis Ellen Gow (née Hay). Father of Jamie Gow. |
Aircraft Information
Aircraft | Avro Lancaster B1 |
Serial Number | RA803 |
Markings |
Memorial Information
Burial/Memorial Country | United Kingdom |
Burial/Memorial Place | Benson Churchyard Extension |
Grave Reference | |
Epitaph |
IBCC Memorial Information
Phase | Post-War |
Panel Number | POST (not yet erected on site) |
Enlistment Information
Service Number | 4016237 |
Service | Royal Air Force |
Group | |
Squadron | 82 (United Provinces) |
Trade | Pilot |
Country of Origin | New Zealand |
Miscellaneous Information
Date of birth 22 January 1923 |
This may have been the last Lancaster lost with Bomber Command |
First joined the New Zealand domestic airline, Union Airways Ltd, on 31 Jan 1941. He then enlisted in the RNZAF at Nelson on 30 Oct 1942 as an Aircraft Hand. After the war, he served in Africa doing aerial survey work. While there he met an English nurse (Mavis Ellen Hay) who was working in Kenya. They returned to England in 1952 when the squadron's aerial survey work was completed. At the time of his death Mavis Ellen Hay was pregnant and gave birth to a son (Jamie) early in 1953. Unfortunately she had to give Jamie up for adoption as she needed to return to Kenya to complete her contract. |
Fellow Servicemen
Last Operation Information
Start Date | 02-12-1952 |
End Date | 02-12-1952 |
Takeoff Station | Benson |
Day/Night Raid | Day |
Operation | Training |
Reason for Loss | Final approach in marginal weather conditions using Gee but the aircraft was too low and struck the ground a few hundred yards short of the runway threshold and burst into flames, killing all on board. The board of enquiry found that the the crew were negligent in failing to follow published procedures, especially with regard to altitude whilst performing a Gee approach. |