Mosquito NT241 at East Moor airfield.
On 29th January 1946 this No.54 Operational Training Unit aircraft suffered an engine failure in the air during a night training flight, the pilot's approach to land at East Moor was too fast and the aircraft ran out of runway before it came to a halt. The aircraft 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 Roy Turner RAFVR (198165). Injured.
Navigator - F/Lt Kenneth Ian 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 a 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".
Allan Turner dedicated much of his working life to the service of his Country. He received a commission to P/O on probation (emergency) on 14th May 1945, rising to F/O (war subs) on 14th November 1945. He initially relinquished his Commission on 19th April 1961 but then appears to have then joined the RAF again and was still in the RAF in 1988, finally relinquishing his Commission on 24th June 1988 but retaining the rank of F/Lt.
Mosquito NT241 was built by De Havilland at Leavesden and was delivered as new to 218 MU on 26th November 1944. The aircraft was taken on charge by 456 Squadron on 16th December 1944. On 5th July 1945 the aircraft was flown to 44 MU before being taken on charge by 54 O.T.U. but the date it was taken on charge is not given on the AM Form 78. As a result of the crash on 29th January 1946 Cat.E/FA damage was the damage assessment and the aircraft was struck off charge.