On the 8th of November 1939 the crew of this aircraft were undertaking
a training exercise and were on their approach to Thornaby airfield, when
at 16.55hrs whilst flying at 600 feet it stalled. Still a relatively new aircraft to these crews at Thornaby, there was no
time to try and recover the aircraft. The aircraft crashed into houses onto No. 65
Cambridge Road, Linthorpe and caused a large fire to the property. The four airmen on the Hudson were killed in the crash, somehow
no-one on the ground was killed, although a fireman sustained injuries. Although perhaps stating the obvious,
Cat W/FA (burnt) damage was sustained to the aircraft and it was written off.
Hudson N7290 was built to contract 791587/38 by Lockheed at Burbank, California and after arrival in the UK
and MU acceptance delivered to 220 Squadron in September 1939.
Pilot - P/O Augustine H J Ryan RAF (41324), aged 21, of Christchurch, Canterbury, New Zealand. Buried Hartshill Cemetery, Stoke on Trent.
Pilot - P/O Douglas H Robertson RAF (41469), aged 21, of Westport, Nelson, New Zealand, Buried Thornaby Cemetery, Yorkshire
Pilot - Sgt Rex Mitchell RAF (580183), aged 24, of Newcastle on Tyne. Buried Byker and Heaton Cemetery, Newcastle.
Wireless Op - AC1 Albert Wade RAF (534389), aged 26, of Burley in Wharfedale, Yorkshire. Buried Burley in Wharfedale, Yorkshire.
AC1 Albert Wade.
P/O Robertson's gravestone in Thornaby Cemetery. As an Acting Pilot Officer on probation he was graded as Pilot Officer on probation with effect from 3rd September 1939, this appointment was
confirmed with effect from 6th October 1939.
The accident scene (photo via Mr Jim Rutland).
Another photograph of the crash site and a modern comparison (photo's Mr Chris Rock).
Augustine Ryan was commissioned as P/O on probation on 29th August 1939.
