Goronwy Amman Bassett

 

Lake Mjøsa, Norway
Lake Mjøsa is one of the largest lakes in Europe and Norway. It is in the southern part of Norway, 52 miles north of Oslo.  It is the main tributary for the Gudbrandsdaslagen, which flows in from the north. To the south, Mjøsa is the only distributary to Vorma river.  On average the depth of the lake is 490 ft. deep.

Lake Mjøsa is the last resting place of Flight Sergeant Goronwy Amman Bassett, of 644 Squadron.







Taking off from RAF Tarrant Rushton, Handley Page Halifax flight NA337.  The flight was on Resistance resupply mission over Norway.  The plane had a crew of six. 

RAF Tarrant Rushton
Tarrant Rushton, Blandford Forum, Dorset
1944

RAF Tarrant Rushton, near the village of Tarrant Rushton, Blandford Forum, Dorset.  Work commenced during May 1942 the airfield was intended for the use of airborne forces of 38 Wing RAF.  Still unfinished the base was handed over, from October 1943 until 1945, gilder operations operated from here.

On the eve of D-Day, June 1944, Airspeed Horsa gilders left from Tarrant Rushton for France top begin Operation Tonga, actions which would later be known as Pegasus Bridge.

Based from 1944 until 1945, was No. 644 Squadron.  644 Squadron was formed February 1944, from 298 Squadron, as part of the No. 38 Group RAF.  The Squadron undertook glider-towing and supply dropping missions, as employed in a paratrooper role.  The squadron also provided supplies to SOE forces and glider towing during Operation Overlord.  The Squadron also provided supply drops over Norway and near the end of the war undertook some tactical night bombing missions.

Handley Page Halifax NA337 
Flight NA337, took part in Operation Varsity, March 1944.  The largest scale allied airborne operation of the Second World War, the crossing of the Rhine River. During this mission NA337 towed a Hamilcar glider, which contained a Dodge truck and an artillery gun. From March to April 1945, NA337 participated in supply drops to resistance forces based in Denmark and Norway.  On 23rd April 1945, it was assigned a mission to Norway.

24th April 1945, NA337 took off from RAF Tarrant Rushton on a mission, Operation ‘Crop 17’, a dropping of 13 containers and 2 packages to drop zone 328. 

The crew members included Flight Lieutenant Alexander Turnbull DFC, pilot; Flight Lieutenant Walter Reginald Michell, navigator; Flight Sergeant Gordon Russell Tuckett, bomb aimer; Flight Sergeant Goronwy Amman Bassett, flight engineer; Flight Sergeant Alec Naylor, wireless operator and Flight Sergeant Thomas Wightman, rear gunner. 

On the return journey back, NA337, was shot down by German AA fire, the plane landed in Lake Mjøsa.  5 of the 6 crew members were killed.  Flight Sergeant Goronwy Amman Bassett, being one.

Handley Page Halifax NA337
National Air Force Museum of Canada
1991 2 witnesses of 1945 crash from the location of the Handley Page Halifax.  The Halifax Aircraft Association of Canda discovered the wreck of NA337.  During 1995, the aircraft was successful raised from Lake Mjøsa.  Restoration was carried out on the wreck and the NA337 was restored to its original wartime condition. 

Today NA337 is part of the National Air Force Museum of Canada, Ontario, Canada.

Goronwy Amman Bassett
So, who was Goronwy Amman Bassett?

Goronwy Amman Bassett was born 1911, Ammanford, Carmarthenshire.  He was son of Evan Bassett, Coal Miner Hewer and Mary Bassett, nee. Jenkins.  Goronwy married October 1941, Georgia M. B. Chapman, of West Cross.  Goronwy was the nephew of Rae Jenkins conductor of the BBC Midland Light Orchestra. 

1911 British Census
Goronwy Amman Bassett
Ddolyffin, Ammanford, Carmarthenshire


Goronwy Amman Bassett
Runnymede Memorial, Surrey,
Panel 270
Following his death, April 1945, Goronwy is commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial, Surrey, Panel 270. Goronwy is also commemorated on the Mumbles War Memorial.

Georgia remarried during 1988, Westminster to Walter L. Howells. Georgia died 2014, aged 101.

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