During the afternoon of 4th April 1946 this aircraft is believed to have been flying from an airfield near Carlisle to Sealand, Chester. Not long after taking off the aircraft flew
into bad weather and with visibility reduced the pilot attempted a forced landing near Bassethwaite village. On landing the aircraft struck a hedge and came to rest near Bassethwaite
police station badly damaged. The pilot was uninjured and continued his journey to Sealand by train later in the day. I speculate the aircraft had been in storage at Silloth airfield and
was being flown to Sealand airfield to be re-stored by 47 MU at the time of this forced landing.
Pilot - F/Lt Reginald Ernest Tckner RAFVR (159062)
Reginald Tickner was born on August 1922. Before receiving his commission he flew Hurricanes with 32 Squadron in England and North Africa in 1942. The Imperial War Museum
hold camera footage dated 19th August 1942 of him flying a Hurricane with 32 Squadron attacking targets at Dieppe. He received his commission to the rank of P/O on probation on
9th October 1943 and rose to F/O (was substantive) on 9th April 1944. In 1944 he served with 122 Squadron flying Mustangs and again the Imperial War Museum hold more camera footage dated
15th July 1944 attacking a Junkers Ju88 and on 12th August 1944 shooting at ground targets. He was soon posted to 65 Squadron as there is further footage of him flying a Mustang on
17th September 1944 attacking ground targets. All these 1944 operations were in support of the D-Day advance. He was promoted to F/Lt (war substantive) on 9th October 1945. Post-War
he remained in the RAFVR and was promoted to F/Lt (substantive) on 6th June 1947 (with seniority of 9th April 1947). He is recorded as serving as an pilot around the time of this landing
at Bassenthwaite serving at an MU and carrying out test and ferry duties. He was then appointed to a permanent commission in the RAF as F/Lt on 1st October 1951 and served as a test pilot
at Farnborough from 1952 to 1955. He was then posted to command 605 Squadron in November 1955 until March 1957 when it was disbanded. He was later promoted to S/Ldr on 1st July 1955.
On 2nd January 1956 he was one of a number of officers given the Queen's Commendation for Valuable Service in the Air. He was promoted to W/Co on 1st January 1969 and retired from
the RAF on 29th August 1977. He died in July 1990. Clearly some man and this basic biography does not really do his service justice.
The location of where this incident occurred has not yet been found. If you can assist please contact me
HERE. Thank you.
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