David John Bassett – Royal Air Force

Flight Sergeant David John Bassett – Royal Air Force

Early Life and Family Background

David John Bassett was born in 1915, the son of David John Bassett and Selina May Bassett. Few early records survive, and he does not appear in the 1921 Census, but the surviving documentation indicates a family rooted in South Wales. In 1938, David married Jean Pamela Sheila Bassett of Nunthorpe, Middlesbrough, Yorkshire, establishing a home shortly before the outbreak of the Second World War.

Royal Air Force Service

David enlisted in the Royal Air Force, rising to the rank of Flight Sergeant during the early years of the war. He was posted to No. 25 Operational Training Unit, one of the many RAF units responsible for preparing bomber crews for front‑line service. Operational Training Units formed the crucial bridge between basic instruction and active operations, teaching aircrews the skills required for night bombing, navigation, wireless communication, and emergency procedures. It was during this demanding phase of training that David lost his life.

RAF Finningley and the Night of 10 September 1941

RAF Finningley

On the night of 10 September 1941, Flight Sergeant Bassett took off from RAF Finningley, a major Bomber Command training station near Doncaster, Yorkshire. Finningley had been taken over by Bomber Command in 1937 and, by 1941, was one of the busiest training centres in the country. Its runways and dispersals were crowded with aircraft, and its instructors and trainees worked long hours under blackout conditions, often in poor weather, to meet the urgent demands of wartime.

Vickers Wellington

David was flying in a Vickers Wellington during a night bombing training exercise, a vital stage in preparing crews for operational sorties over enemy territory. Night flying was inherently dangerous, and training flights frequently took place at low altitude to simulate operational conditions. The Wellington in which David was flying was part of the routine but hazardous programme undertaken nightly by No. 25 OTU.

The Crash at Nocton Delph

Official crash‑site records identify the aircraft as Wellington X9872. During the night exercise, the bomber struck farm buildings at Nocton Delph, a rural area approximately one mile from the River Witham and close to the village of Southrey, Lincolnshire. The aircraft was completely destroyed on impact, and all six crew members were killed instantly. Sources note that the Wellington collided with the buildings while flying at low altitude in darkness—conditions that made such training flights extremely hazardous. Although the precise cause of the accident was never fully established, the tragedy reflects the immense risks faced by aircrews during the intensive wartime training programme.

The accident was one of many that occurred during the rapid expansion of Bomber Command. Training stations such as Finningley operated at relentless pace, and the combination of night flying, inexperienced crews, and the pressures of wartime instruction meant that accidents were sadly frequent. Flight Sergeant Bassett’s death stands among the many losses sustained far from the front lines, yet essential to the RAF’s operational capability.

The Crew of Wellington X9872

All six men aboard the Wellington were killed in the crash. They trained together and died together, and each is commemorated by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission. Their names and resting places are:

Flight Sergeant David John Bassett, RAF – buried at Oystermouth Cemetery, Swansea Sergeant Frederick Victor Martin, RAF – buried at St. Martin Churchyard, Guernsey Sergeant William George Kilsby, RAF – buried at Streatham Cemetery, London Sergeant George Frederick Large, RAF – buried at St. James the Less Churchyard, Dorset Flight Sergeant Thomas Highton, RAF – buried at Lancaster Cemetery, Lancashire Sergeant Matthew Joseph Byrne, RAF – buried at Yew Tree Roman Catholic Cemetery, Liverpool

Their shared loss reflects the collective sacrifice of thousands of airmen who perished during training, long before they had the chance to fly operationally.

The Vickers Wellington

The Vickers Wellington, introduced in 1938, was one of the most important British bombers of the early war years. Designed by Barnes Wallis, its geodetic airframe gave it exceptional strength and resilience, allowing it to absorb heavy damage in combat. As Bomber Command expanded, the Wellington became central to the work of Operational Training Units, where crews learned the skills required for night operations. It was in one of these aircraft that Flight Sergeant Bassett undertook his final flight.

David John Bassett
Oystermouth Cemetery
credit - findagrave

Funeral and Commemoration

South Wales Daily Post

The South Wales Daily Post reported on David’s funeral, which took place at Oystermouth Cemetery, Swansea, where he was laid to rest with full respect and ceremony. His grave is maintained by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission, ensuring that his service and sacrifice are preserved for future generations. Flight Sergeant David John Bassett is remembered for his dedication, skill, and the ultimate sacrifice he made during one of the most demanding periods in the history of the Royal Air Force.