On 4th September 1942 this No.6 (Coastal) Operational Training Unit aircraft took off from Thornaby airfield and a short time later it crashed into a field near Myton House Farm, Ingleby Barwick at 22.30hrs and caught fire. Sadly the four airmen in the aircraft were killed.
Hudson AE627 was built by Lockheed-Vega at Burbank, California and was purchased without contract by the B.P.C. It was delivered by ship to the UK and arrived here in March 1941. It was received by 12 MU on 7th March 1941. It was allotted to the Parachute Training School at Ringway on 31st December 1941 but was never taken on charge by them. It was eventually taken on charge by No.6 (C)O.T.U. on 16th April 1942. Following the crash on 4th September 1942 Cat.E2/Burnt damage was the damage assessment and it was struck off charge.
Pilot - Sgt Ernest Stanley Studholme RAFVR (778600), aged 30. Buried Bishopwearmouth Cemetery, Sunderland.
Observer - F/Sgt Howard Bruce Shaver RCAF (R/74041), aged 22, of Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. Buried Thornaby on Tees Cemetery, Yorkshire.
Wireless Operator / Air Gunner - F/Sgt John Alan Montgomery RCAF (R/90455), aged 25, of Port Huron, Michigan, U.S.A. Buried Thornaby on Tees Cemetery, Yorkshire.
Wireless Operator / Air Gunner - Sgt Frank Harris Wright RCAF (R/87954), aged 28, of Sardis, British Columbia, Canada. Buried Thornaby on Tees Cemetery, Yorkshire.
Three of the crew were buried at Thornaby on Tees Cemetery.
Howard Shaver was born on 30th August 1920 in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada and was the son of George MacRitchie and Susie Alexandria (nee Marr) Shaver. He appears to have been known by his middle name of Bruce. He was still at college when he enlisted into the RCAF in Ottawa on 12th September 1940 for flying duties. After training in Canada he was awrded his air observers flying badge on 20th December 1941. He was posted to the UK in early 1942 arrived at 6(C)OTU after training at No.3 S.of G.R.
Frank Wright was born on 14th February 1914 at Strathmore, Alberta, Canada and was the son of Ernest and Hester (nee Harris) Wright. His parents had emigrated to Canada from Leeds, Yorkshire, England. The family later moved to Sardis, British Columbia, Canada. Frank was an accomplished athlete in Chilliwack and Sardis and as a young man was played football and baseball. Prior to enlisting into the RCAF he worked for the British Columbia Hop Farm in Sardis, a firm managed by his father. He enlisted for RCAF service on 30th January 1941 in Vancouver. After training was awarded his air gunner's flying badge on 22nd December 1941 followed shortly afterwards by the wireless operator badge. On arrival in the UK he trained at No.1 Signals School and No.3 Radio School before posting to 6 (C)OTU on 16th June 1942.
John Montgomery was born on 25th February 1917 at Collingwood, Ontario, Canada and was the son of Allan Bell and Viola Gladwin (nee Fisher) Montgomery. The family later moved to Port Huron, Michigan, USA where his father was a captain of a lake boat. John worked as a mechanic for a garage. He enlisted for RCAF service on 17th March 1941 in London, Ontario and after training in Canada he was awarded his 19th January 1942 followed shortly afterwards by the wireless operator badge. On arrival in the UK he trained at No.1 Signals School and No.3 Radio School before posting to 6 (C)OTU on 16th June 1942.