Defiant N1573 near Biggin.
During the early hours of 17th May 1941 this No.54 Operational Training Flight aircraft was being used to fly a local flying night training exercise. Soon after taking off from Church Fenton airfield the aircraft made a turn and flew into the ground near Bishop Wood, Biggin at 03.05hrs. The pilot walked away from the crash but the air gunner on board was killed. It was thought that the trainee pilot had mis-read his instruments at night.
Defiant N1573 was built to contract by Boulton and Paul Ltd. at Wolverhampton and awaiting collection in June 1940 and was immediately placed into long term MU storage. It was eventually taken on charge by 55 O.T.U. at Aston Down in November 1940 but on 10th December 1940 all of 55 O.T.U. Defiants were passed to 54 O.T.U. based at Church Fenton. As a result of the accident near Biggin on 17th May 1941 Cat.E2/FA Burnt damage was the damage assessment and the aircraft was struck off charge.
Pilot - Sgt Vernon Mainwaring Russell RAF (990448). Seriously injured.
Air Gunner - F/Sgt Reginald Cowan RAF (535102), aged 25, of Lyndhurst. Buried Lyndhurst Cemetery, Hampshire.
Sgt Cowan's body was returned to his wife and buried local to her in Lyndhurst Cemetery, Hampshire.
I thank local historian Mr David Ride for contacting me and for kindly allowing this photograph to appear here.
Vernon Russell later recovered from his injuries and received a commission on 20th June 1944 to the rank of P/O on probation (emergency). He stayed in
the RAF in the Post-War years working in the Equipment Branch, on 1st May 1957 he was promoted to F/Lt.
