Charles Edward Lovett Sergeant R/208139 Royal Canadian Air Force May 23, 1925 Huron Co., Ontario November 26, 1942 Hamilton, Ontario St. Catharines, Ontario 17 5 feet, 5½ inches Dark Brown Black Single Aero Engineer United Beatrice Lovett (Mother) St. Catharines, Ontario April 15, 1944 18 Harrogate (Stonefall) Cemetery, Yorkshire, UK Sec. B. Row A. Grave 6.

Name: Rank: Service No: Service: Date of Birth: Place of Birth: Date of Enlistment: Place of Enlistment: Address at Enlistment: Age at Enlistment: Height: Complexion: Eye Colour: Hair Colour: Marital Status: Trade: Religion: Next of Kin: Date of Death: Age at Death: Cemetery: Reference:

Canadian Virtual War Memorial

Sergeant Lovett went overseas arriving in the United Kingdom on October 16, 1943. He was taken on strength with 1664 Conversion Unit on March 18, 1944. On the night of April 15, 1944 aircraft Halifax V EB203 departed RAF Dishforth, North Yorkshire at 20:00 hrs. on a cross country exercise with a crew of seven, including Sergeant Lovett acting as rear gunner. At 22:38 the aircraft was recalled as weather was deteriorating and thunder storm had developed. At approximately 23:20 witnesses saw an aircraft orbiting Ripon and Bishop Monkton appropriately four miles east of the airbase flying at low altitude in what was described as heavy rain and thunder and lighting. While still airborne there was a brilliant flash and some seconds later the aircraft dived to the ground. If lighting struck the aircraft at low altitude, it could stun the pilot enough to lose control and hit the ground before recovery. Due to the condition of the wreckage, it was not possible to ascertain if there was any structural damage. All seven members of the crew were killed. The inquiry concluded that the aircraft could have been landed safely had flying control contacted and diverted the aircraft before the thunder storm actually arrived over RAF Dishforth.