Herbert Clement's Story.
Flight Sergeant Herbert Clement AISLABIE
PARENTS: Mr. & Mrs. C. Aislabie, Palmerston North New Zealand
Herbert Aislabie was born at Te Kuiti on July 31st 1920. He was educated at Shannen School, Makera School and Palmerston North Technical High School, where he was a member of the ist XV.After leaving school he played rugby for the Kia-Toa Club in the Manawatu and was also a member of the Ruahine Tramping Club. From 1937 until he entered the Air Force he was employed as a fitter and turner by the Berry Engineering Works Ltd., Palmerston North. He was also studying marine engineering.
Flight Sergeant Aislable applied for enrolment in the Civil Reserve in June 1939 and in July 1940 joined the Territorials, serving with the 1st Batallion of the Wellington West Coast Regiment until he entered the Air Force. He applied for aircrew training in March 1941, and was eventually enlisted as a pilot on May 2, 1942, when he commenced training at the Initial Training Wing, Roterua. In July he was posted to No. 1 Elementary Flying Training School, Taieri, where he made his first solo flight on August 17. He embarked for Canada at the end of October and continued his flying training at No. 6 Service Flying Training School, Dunnville, where he was awarded the flying badge and promoted to Sergeant on April 2, 1943. He proceeded in April to No. 1 General Reconnaissance School, Summerside, Prince Edward Island, where he underwent navigation course on Avro Anson aircraft, completing the course early in June. The following month Flight Sergeant Aislabie left Canada for England, where in August he commenced training at No. 14 Advanced Flying Unit at, Dallachy, Scotland on Oxford aircraft. He was posted to No. 9 (Coastal) Operational Training Unit in September for operational training on Bristol Beaufort bombers and Bristol Beaufighter fighter-bombers.
Details of loss
Operation: Training
Date: 12th January 1944 (Wednesday)
Unit: No. 9 (Coastal) Operational Training Unit. 17 Group
Type: Beaufighter VIC
Serial: T5277
Code: -
Base: RAF Crosby-on-Eden, Cumberland
Location: Shaw Hill, Dumfriesshire
Pilot: Fl/Sgt. Herbert Clement Aislabie NZ/424404 RNZAF Age 23. Killed
Nav: F/O. Albert John Mabey 151263 RAFVR Age 22. Killed
REASON FOR LOSS:
Taking off at about 11:45 for a training sortie, a practice QGH (course to steer), veered off track after a w/t failure in poor weather and flew into cloud-covered Shaw Hill, 3.5 miles west of Langholm, Dumfriesshire at 13:05 hrs. Both crew died.
Herbert's grave at Blacon
Crash location
Beaufighter aircraft