REASON FOR LOSS:

F/O Charles Jackson and his crew had been posted to the ìSnowy Owlsî on March 26th 1943, and this was to be their second operational sortie
with the Squadron. On the night of April 10, 1943 thirteen Wellington bombers of No.420 ìSnowy Owlî Squadron, RCAF took off from Middleton
St George, Durham en-route to bomb Frankfurt. Among these aircraft was Wellington X, serial number HE422 carrying a total of six small bomb
containers and crewed by F/O C. W. Jackson (Pilot); Sgt H. B. Elhorn (Navigator); Sgt A. H. MacDonald (Air Bomber); Sgt J. T. Kydd (Wireless

Op/Air Gunner); and Sgt K. T. Allan (Air Gunner).

Eight aircraft bombed the target and four returned early. HE 422 was successful in bombing the target but on return the aircraft had apparently
wandered decidedly off track, becoming low on fuel the pilot gave the order to bale out as they reached the coastline in the vicinity of Tenby,
South Wales. Having placed George -in (automatic pilot) the crew abandoned the aircraft. All were recovered with no more than slight injuries,
with the exception of F/O Jackson who, it is believed was drowned in Carmarthen Bay.

In the early hours of April 11th, the residents of the small Warwickshire village of Burmington were awakened by the sound of an aircraft hitting the
ground followed by an explosion. The crashed aeroplane turned out to be Wellington HE422 ñ it had flown some 140 miles after the crew had left
her. Among the residents of Burmington who would later retain memories of the crash and subsequent fire, was a very small boy, Bob Aston. He
and a colleague were to spend a chilly morning at the crash site 46 years later, successfully coaxing a reluctant JCB into action.

The team of aviation archaeologists led by Melvin Brownless & David King, carried out a recovery at the scene, by kind permission of the landowner, Bill Joynes and the
Ministry of Defence. Many relics of HE422 were recovered including a geodetic section, tail assembly, Hercules engine makers plate, carburettor,
supercharger and main wheel & tyre. Perhaps though, the most touching artefact to be recovered was an officers forage cap. As F/O Jackson was
the only commissioned member of the crew, it is reasonable to suppose that the cap had belonged to him.

F/O Charles W. Jackson.

F/O Jackson's forage cap recovered from the crash site.

P/O Jackson's sister,
Mrs. Hazel Jackson Elliott, with her husband at her brothers grave.

BURIAL DETAILS:

Flying Officer Charles W. Jackson R.C.A.F. J/20125. Age 24.

Carew (St. Mary.) new churchyard, South Wales.

Row. B. Grave No. 6.