Personnel Index - Detail

Name
BARTLETT
First Names
Stanley Albert George
Rank
Sgt
Service
RAF
Service Number
3031978
Crew Position
Air Gunner
Age
29
Date of Death
19/02/1955
Cemetery

 

Photographed by Richard Bartlett-May


Richard Bartlett-May at the graveside of his father
 

Photographed by Alan Parr

The crew names engraved on the walls of the National Arboretum
 

The crew photograph

From left to right.
Sgt N.V. Hollands, Sgt A. North, F/O J.G. Parry,
F/O A. King, F/O A.L Hunt, Sgt S.A.G. Bartlett
 

An Air Ministry letter explaining the details of the crash
 

THE GITHUNGURI TRAGEDY

On 19 February 1955, the Thomas crew (49 Squadron) were visiting Githunguri police post as guests of the Kenya Police. Suddenly, the visiting crew had their attention drawn to a Lincoln (displaying white spinners) coming in on a very low approach; it was another 49 Squadron crew intent on showing those on the ground 'a thing or two'. Those on the ground threw themselves flat, thinking the aircraft was coming straight into the compound. It was during the second pass that the aircraft's tail struck the boundary fence. It then went into a severe vertical climb before stalling out onto an African 'shamba'. In the sickening carnage, four Africans and all six crew members onboard were killed. The hero of the incident was a chap called Pierson of the visiting crew, who managed to pull Stan Bartlett from the wreckage, but sadly Stan died later of his injuries.

Lincoln SX984
F/O Alan Hunt Pilot (Killed)
Sgt Alan North F/Eng (Killed)
Sgt Norman Hollands Signaller (Killed)
Sgt Stanley Bartlett A/G (Killed)
F/O Alexander King NAV (Killed)
F/O John Parry NAV (Killed)

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