Date: 27th March 1943
Time: 16.10 hours.
Unit: No.414 (R.C.A.F) Squadron.
Type: North American Mustang I
Serial No: AP185
Base: Dunsfold, Surrey.
Location: North of Brighton, East Sussex, England.
Pilot: F/O Hugh "Steevie" Steves J/7474 R.C.A.F. Age ? - Killed.
REASON FOR LOSS:
Extract from No.414 Squadron ORB
F/O Steeves & F/O Mossing took off on a Rhubarb, weather was good for operation but patches of fog mist & rain had been reported. They were instructed to turn back if weather doubtful. When flying to South Coast they ran into dense fog. F/O Steeves was No.1 and said "climb" over R/T. F/O Mossing climbed in fog and approximateley one and a half minutes later heard leader say "return to base". F/O Mossing emerged from cloud at 6000 feet and called for a homing from Tangmere, he did not hear from F/O Steeves again. At 1610 hours F/O Steeves crashed into the side of a hill North of Brighton and was instantly killed.
28th March 1943:
Bright warm day, weather too good for Rhubarb. Major O'Reilly, F/Lt Clarke and F/O Macmillan drove to Brighton to investigate crash. Interviewed police at Hassocks, visited the scene of the accident. Aircraft completely broken up, crashed through some trees and hit the side of a hill, bounced about 300 yards, burned and exploded. RAF Station Brighton very co-operative.
Arranged for local funeral contractors to remove body of F/O Steeves from Hassocks and prepare for burial. Funeral
Funeral Tuesday March 30th at 1500 hours, Internment at Brookwood Cemetery
F/O. Hugh "Steevie" Steeves (Christopher Clarke & Brenda Burroughs)
No.414 pilot line up - On the prop: Chick Davidson
Standing L to R: Gordon Zetterstrand, F/L Miskelly, Bill Blakney, George Burroughs, Stuart Chapman, Charles Stover, Larry Doherty, Frank McQuoid, Ludwig Bernhardt, Lou Theireault, Steevie Steeves.
Seated: Fred Clarke, Jack Godfrey, Roy Begg, Jack Amos,Bod Sanderson (Christopher Clarke).
CC
Original grave marker at Brookwood Cemetery(Clarke)ccccccccccccccHugh's grave today (Clarke)cccccccccccc
Burial Details:
F/O. Hugh "Steevie" Steves. Brookwood Military Cemetery Grave 34.C.1.
Acknowledgments: Compiled & researched by Melvin Brownless With special thanks to Mr. Christopher Clarke in Canada and also the daughter of George Burroughs, Brenda for the supply of information and the superb photographs.