Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Commemorated on Alamein Memorial Egypt Column 284. The Alamein Memorial forms the entrance to the El Alamein War Cemetery.

Source: Wellington Museum Brooklands UK

I have checked the on the official fate of Wellington MP792, which is shown as being on the strength of 78 O.T.U. at Ein Shemer, and it is described thus:-

"Flew into the sea on a Leigh Light exercise off Netanya, Palestine 8.1.45."

78 O.T.U. had been formed at Ein Shemer in February 1944, from a special detachment sent out from 3 O.T.U. in the UK, to train Wellington crews for general reconnaissance squadrons in submarine hunting, using ASV radar and Leigh Lights.

Netanya is a coastal beach resort to the north of Tel Aviv. The aircraft was not recovered.

Wellington MP 792 of No 78 OTU RAF took off from RAF Station Ein Shemer, Middle East Force, at approx 6pm on 8 January 1945 to carry out a non operational training exercise over the sea, and the aircraft failed to return to base. Normal radio contact was kept with the aircraft for a time but after 6.35pm no further messages were received, and base could not regain contact. A little later information was received that an aircraft had crashed in the sea. A launch was despatched to carry out a search, and although some aircraft wreckage similar to the missing aircraft type was located, it could not be established if it came from the missing aircraft. Also no trace of the crew could be found.

It was believed that the aircraft came down in the sea approx 3 miles west of Jaffa, Palestine, and that the crew were lost at sea.