- Surnames starting with the letter R. 

Aubrey Francis Rooke

Rank:SergeantNumber:1130712
Ship/Rgn/Sqn No:19 O.T.U. RAFVR
Name of Rgt or Ship:Operational Training Unit
Died:03/09/1942Age:34
How Died:Accidental (a/c engine failure)
Country of burial:U.K.Grave Photo:Yes
Cemetery or Memorial:Kinloss Abbey Burial Ground
Town Memorial:Not Listed
Extra Information:
Born during the March quarter 1908 in the Chorlton R.D. - ref: 8c/962, the
son of Aubrey Piercy & Lucy Rooke (nee Francis).

1911 Census - 21 Upper Jackson Street, Hulme, Manchester.    Son - aged: 3
- born: Moss Side, Manchester.    Head of household - Aubrey Piercy Rooke -
Married - aged: 32 - occ: Manager Gramophone Shop - born: Southgate,
Middlesex.  Also - Lucy Rooke - Wife - aged: 34 - occ: Assisting in
business - born: Hulme, Manchester.   Plus 2 siblings.

Flying with the 19th O.T.U. (operational Training Unit), the five man crew
of a Whitley Mk 5 bomber - No. Z6760 - call sign ZV-S, took off from RAF
Forres, Morayshire, situated 13 miles WSW of Elgin at 01.46 hrs for a night
training exercise.   RAF Forres opened in 1940 and closed in 1946.   It had
a 1,700 yard long grass runway.

Those watching on the ground were increasingly concerned about the length
of the aircraft's take off run.   Then, having lifted off the ground and
climbed to about 40 feet, an engine cut out.    Gradually, the bomber began
to bank to port before hitting a raised bank and bursting into flames.

The crew members were:- Flt Sgt. R.J. Pollock RCAF (Pilot);  P/Off. L.I.
Alter;  Sgt. A.F. Rooke;  Sgt. T.V. Robinson; and Sgt  J.D. Frost.

Flt. Sgt. Pollock and Sgt. Rooke were taken to the Kinloss Abbey Burial
Ground, the others to their home towns.

Kinloss Abbey Burial Ground, is half a mile north-west of Kinloss railway
station between Kinloss and Findhorn Bay.  The burial ground contains the
ruins of an abbey founded by David I in 1150 or 1151. There was a Royal Air
Force Training Station at Kinloss aerodrome during the 1939-1945 War.
During the early part of the 1939-1945 War a special plot was set aside for
service war burials, and all but three of the war graves are in this plot.
Elsewhere in the burial ground there is one 1914-1918 War grave. A Cross of
Sacrifice is erected at the far end of the plot overlooking the graves.

M.I. - "It is not death without hereafter to one in dearth of life and it's
laughter".

For more information about 19 OTU see the following website:-

http://www.griffon.clara.net/19/welcome.htm
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