Mosquito NT241 at East Moor airfield.
On 29th January 1946 this aircraft suffered an engine failure in the air
during a night training flight, the pilot's approach to land at base of East
Moor was too fast and the aircraft ran out of runway to stop on, it overturned
after overshooting and caught fire. The navigator was sadly killed but the pilot
was able to scramble clear before the aircraft burned out.
Pilot - F/O Allan R Turner RAFVR (198165). Injured.
Navigator - F/Lt Kenneth I Thornton DFC RAFVR (146255), aged 23. Killed. Of Stanmore, Middlesex. Buried Bells Hill Burial Ground, Barnet, Hertfordshire.
F/Lt Thornton's DFC was gained for service with 85 Squadron and published in the London Gazette
on 16th November 1945. He had received his commission to P/O on probation (emergency) on 19th June 1943
rising to F/O on probation (war subs) on 19th December 1943 and F/Lt (war subs) on 19th June 1945.
The photograph of his gravestone was found on "www.findagrave.com".
He received his commission to P/O on probation (emergency) on 14th May 1945, rising to F/O (war subs)
on 14th November 1945.
Allan Turner dedicated his working life to the service of his Country. He initially
relinquished his Commission on 19th April 1961 then appears to have then joined the RAF again and
was still in the RAF in 1988, relinquishing his Commission again on 24th June 1988 but retaining
his rank of F/Lt. If his family see this it would be nice to be able to show a photograph of him here.