Sergeant Archibald Gordon Willis: buried Carew (St. Mary) New Churchyard

Archibold Gordon Willis was born in Braham, Canterbury Kent on March 1 1920. He was the son of Archibald Frank and Nellie Ward Willis of Chelsea London. Willis was a sergeant in World War 11 and served in the Royal Air Force as an air gunner in No. 48 squadron (RAF Coastal Command). His military number was 568341. He flew an Anson Reconnaissance Aircraft Mark 1 Number K-8829.

Sgt. A.G.Willis died on 31st. July when his Anson No. K-8829 crashed into a dispersed fairy battle during take-off. The plane was taking off to carry out a morning patrol for enemy aircraft over the Irish Sea. The Anson collided with a Battle Bomber aircraft on the runway of Carew Cheriton and crashed. The collision occurred at 0432 hrs. Two of the crew members on board lost their lives:

F/Sgt. S.P.Tomley - Pilot - killed
Sgt. A.G.Willis - Crew - killed, aged twenty
Sgt. A.J.Danies (Royal Norweigan Navy) - slightly injured
Lt Cdr H Kolff (Royal Norweigan Navy) - slightly injured
Cpl. J.Van de Schaff (Royal Norweigan Navy) - seriously injured

A.G.Willis was buried on a Saturday, along with Flight Sergeant S.P.Tomley. They were both buried with full military honours. The funeral took place at the cemetery in Carew, only a few miles from the station where he was based. The funeral service was attended by Sgt. Willis parents, who, after their sons death, named their new home Cherianson.

There are 15 soldiers from World War Two buried at Carew Cheriton; four Canadians, four Dutch, three British, two Polish and a New Zealander.

RAF Carew Cheriton

In the First World War, the Royal Naval Air Station were situated on the airfield site. The station housed two types of airships, which were non-rigid blimps. These airships were used for patrolling shipping lanes and coastal waters. In March 1920, the Disposal Board took charge of the station and ended RNAS Pembrokes brief operational life, which had only begun in August 1915.

Almost 20 years after RNAS Pembroke was closed, work on a new airfield got underway. The airfield was positioned on the same site as the old air station. The new airfield was named RAF Carew Cheriton. The name Pembroke could not be used, as it would be confused with Pembroke Dock. Milton also could not be used, as it would be muddled with an RAF ground station in Oxfordshire. On April 14th, the first unit and aircraft arrived, B Flight of No. 1 AACU with its Hawker Henley aircraft.

During the war many different squadrons and units used Carew Cheriton for an assortment of reasons. The Coastal Command Squadrons, using Ansons, Blenheims, Hudsons and Beaufighters, were occupied with patrol fights over the Irish sea and Western Approaches. Among the duties undertaken by two Dutch squadrons, were Reconnaissance sorties and bombing raids. These were carried out on targets along the French coast. The two squadrons formed at Pembroke Dock, but later moved to Carew in June 1940.

One unit used the airfield for target towing for the gunnery schools at Manorbier, Aberporth and Towyn. The Coastal Command Development unit spent a year at Carew testing and perfecting new systems for use against U boats. In the course of 1940 - 1941 the Luftwaffe carried out a number of raids on the airfield. The most serious was on April 15th. 1941, when the sick bay at the base was hit. This killed twelve airmen.

The airfield changed to technical Training Command in 1942 and the newly formed No. 10 Radio School started its training programme. The Blenheims, Hudsons and Beaufighters departed, while Airspeed Oxfords and Avro Ansons moved in. Hundreds of wireless operators were trained on the units Oxfords and Ansons. The units good record of safety was spoiled on 3rd. September 1943 when two Oxfords collided on the intersection of the two runways. Six airmen were killed. The training lasted until the Radio School disbanded in November 1945. Shortly afterwards the airfields closed.

Fred Redhead has emailed us with his memories of Carew Cheriton:

"I served at Carew Cheriton for about 20 months from 1942 - 44 and enjoyed the time there and found the 'natives' charming and very friendly. The summary of the station was very well authenticated and I remember so well the tragic accident of two aircraft colliding with the loss of six lives. One of these was Sergenat Taylor a pilot whom I flew with on many occasions.

"There were two other fatalities, I remember both pilots, one was Belgian and the other was Indian called Sergeant Reddy, but I have no memory of other crew members. I was responsible for Aircraft Recognition and Gunnery Instruction also the flying timetable for air instruction with the rank of Flying Officer.

"I visited Carew Cheriton about 25 years ago, it was a very nostalgic experience and apart from the runways there was very little I recognised. I came to Carew Cheriton after an operational tour with 502 Squadron Coastal Command.

"May I compliment the two young ladies on the accuracy of their details of the station and as I am now 86 years of age it made very interesting and nostalgic reading."