Catalina Is of 205 Sqn Singapore
F/O Aiston was serving with 628 Squadron. He was a crew member of Catalina FP161, which was on a ferry flight from Willingdon Reach to the east coat of Ceylon. The aircraft disappeared without trace over the Bay of Bengal, possible due to a severe storm, among other things.
The Operational record 31st March 1944, reads as follows:- "Although only formed on the 21st March 1944, four aircraft and crews of this Squadron have been accommodated by No.240 Squadron, and have been carrying out various training exercises and operational work since the beginning of the year. This work has been included in the Form 540 of 240 Squadron.
On the 4th March, one aircraft - Catalina1B - FP 161 was reported missing while on a transit flight, and no further news of this aircraft has been heard. It is feared that this aircraft was lost as the result of abnormal weather conditions, there being a cyclone in force in the vicinity of the scheduled route. The missing personnel are as follows:- Aiston, Frederick - F/O - 129439 - RAFVR - Singapore Memorial, Singapore. [ Catalina Ib - FP161 - 628 Sqdn ]. Holland, Thomas Reginald - F/O - 124320 - RAFVR - Singapore Memorial, Singapore. [ Catalina Ib - FP161 - 628 Sqdn ]. Tasker, Charles Neville - Sgt - 1432828 - RAFVR - Singapore Memorial, Singapore. [ Catalina Ib - FP161 - 628 Sqdn ]. Wild, Ronald Cuthbert - Sgt - 1036348 - RAFVR - Singapore Memorial, Singapore. [ Catalina Ib - FP161 - 628 Sqdn ]. Yeaman, Robert William Cowan - Sgt - 1095641 - RAFVR - Singapore Memorial, Singapore. [ Catalina Ib - FP161 - 628 Sqdn ].
Though Without Anger (Losses of Transport and Special Duties Aircraft and Assault Gliders 1940 to 1945); Cummings; Nimbus Publishing; 2008; 978 0 9526619 6 2
With thanks to the National Archives
Frederick Aiston is remembered at Heaton on H91.02, in H91.06 and on H91.41
Catalina History
628th Squadron History
The CWGC entry for Flying Officer Aiston