Ernest John Hurr

A Sergeant with the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, Ernest died on 28th of April 1944 aged 21. 

Ernest was born at Lowestoft in 1923, a son of Charles Ernest and Eva May Hurr. In 1939 his family lived at 8 Pier Terrace, Lowestoft, Suffolk.

Ernest enlisted in the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve after April 1941. In April 1944 Ernest was serving with 1658 Heavy Conversion Unit based at Riccall, Yorkshire. 

On 28 April Ernest was a member of the crew of a Halifax II bomber, number BB374, which was taking part in a Bullseye exercise over the Irish Sea. A Bullseye exercise tested navigation skills and mock raids. Ernest’s aircraft collided with another Halifax, number DG297, of 1663 Heavy Conversion Unit, and crashed into the sea. The other aircraft crash landed safely. 

WITH THANKS TO: Malcolm Barrass