Fernley William Clarke

A Flying Officer with the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, Fernley died on 26th of April 1945 aged 21. 

Fernley was born at Lowestoft in 1923, a son of John Thomas and Mildred May Clarke. By 1945 his family were living at 141 Beccles Road, Oulton Broad.

Fernley enlisted in the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, service number 1339106. He was commissioned as a Pilot Officer on 31 August 1943 and then as a Flying Officer, on probation, on 29 February 1944 and he was confirmed in that rank on 29 May 1944. By April 1945 Fernley was a Pilot with 45 (Atlantic Ferry) Group, based at Dorval, Canada. 

On 26 April 1945 Fernley was flying in a Mosquito XXVI aircraft, number KA153, on a ferry flight to the U.K. The aircraft stalled and crashed during a single engine approach to R.A.F. Reykjavik. The other member of crew was also killed.

See Accident de Havilland DH.98 Mosquito FB Mk 26 KA153, 26 Apr 1945 (aviation-safety.net)

WITH THANKS TO: Malcolm Barrass