Oxford L9647 near Burton Fleming.
During the morning of 19th May 1942 the pilots of two Oxfords of No.15 (Pilot) Advanced Flying Unit were briefed to fly a formation flying training exercise over East Yorkshire. By 10.30hrs the pilot of Oxford L9647 was leading the formation while the pilot of Oxford R6358 took up a formation flying position to the starboard side of the lead aircraft. Needing to descend through cloud and while flying over the Burton Fleming area the two aircraft broke formation but in doing so, the port wing tip of the second aircraft, R6358, struck the starboard elevator of L9647. The collision broke off the elevator and the pilot of L9647 immediately lost control. It dived into the ground near Pear Tree Farm, Burton Fleming. The pilot of this aircraft, who was flying solo, was killed. The pilot of Oxford R6358 managed to land safely, probably back at base at Leconfield.
Oxford L9647 was built to contract 721130/37 by Airspeed Ltd. at Portsmouth and was awaiting collection in January 1939. It was then taken on charge by the Royal Air Force College (R.A.F.C.) Cranwell on 27th January 1939 and remained there for three years until being transferred to 15 (P)A.F.U. at Leconfield on 1st March 1942 when the unit formed. As a result of the accident on 19th May 1942 Cat.E2/FA damage was the damage assessment and it was written off.
Pilot - Sgt Bernard Rinian Roy Rutherford RAAF (406540). Aged 22. Buried Leconfield Churchyard, Yorkshire.
Bernard Rutherford was born in Wolverhampton, England on 22nd August 1919, he enlisted in Perth, Western Australia. His younger brother, Thomas Alan Rutherford RAAF (406626) who was born on 3rd August 1922 in Brampton, England, had also enlisted in Perth. He sadly died only weeks later on 14th August 1942 flying Blenheim BA192 with 54 OTU which crashed near Charterhall, he was twenty years old and is buried in Duns Cemetery, Berwickshire. Their father Stamford Rutherford RAAF (296635) also served in the UK during WW2.
