Anson N9848 at Finningley airfield.
During the evening of the 26th April 1941 during a night dual-control basic take-offs and landing exercise this 25 OTU aircraft hit a Chance light on landing at
Finningley and was badly damaged. The trainee pilot was at the controls when the incident happened. The damage was later assessed and
the damage was enough not to warrant a repair. No serious injuries were reported.
Anson N9848 was built to contract 766119/38 by A.V. Roe & Co. Ltd. at Newton Heath and was awaiting collection in January 1940. After a lengthy period of MU storage it was taken on charge by 19 OTU at Kinloss on 27th May 1940 when the unit formed. For a short period in late 1940 and early 1941 the aircraft was on charge with 14 OTU at Cottesmore before being transferred to 25 OTU at Finningley, which formed on 1st March 1941. As a result of the incident at Finningley on 26th April 1941 Cat.E/FA damage was recorded.
Trainee Pilot - Sgt Henry Albion Church RAFVR (904836). Broken bone in hand.
Instructor Pilot - F/Lt Elmer Coton RAF (70851).
Pilot - Sgt J Carr RAF (759148).
Pilot - Sgt Kenneth Harry Hart RAFVR (1154131).
Wireless Operator / Air Gunner - Sgt Frank Morris RAFVR (924152).
Elmer Coton is pictured above in a Manchester (found on the superb 97 Squadron Association website here). He begun training in the RAF Reserve in January 1938 and trained as a pilot at 8 FTS at Montrose between 14th May 1938 and 29th October 1938, on 30th October 1938 he was granted a short service commission as a P/O on probation and was posted to 144 Squadron on the same date, his commission was made permanent on 30th October 1939. He served with 144 Squadron until joining 106 Squadron on 28th June 1940 where he served until 28th February 1941. He then served as an instructor at 25 OTU between 1st March 1941 and 1st July 1941. After 25 OTU he was posted briefly to 455 Squadron until 31st August 1941 and then to 97 Squadron on 1st September 1941 until 22nd December 1942. He may have been posted to 49 Squadron based at Scampton before posting to 97 Squadron but this record is missing from his logbook so may have not flown while there. While with 97 Squadron he completed 30 operations and had survived being shot down earlier in the war by Allied defences over Essex (currently being researched). On another date, the 23rd October 1942 flying in Lancaster W4278 he crashed near North Luffenham, Rudland after running out of fuel on return from Ops to Genova. He was awarded the DFC, Gazetted 31st July 1942, a joint citation reads..
"On 11th July 1942 a force of bombers was detailed to make an attack on the submarine works at Danzig. The operation, which necessitated a high degree of skill and fortitude, was undertaken in extremely adverse weather. Despite this, the objective was reached by dusk, carefully identified and, in the face of strong opposition from the ground defences, subjected to a most determined attack. Bombs were released at varying heights, some as low as 1,000 feet. Many hits were obtained. Searchlight posts were also machine-gunned and many searchlights extinguished. The success achieved reflects the greatest credit on the following personnel who participated in various capacities as leaders and members of aircraft crews."
He was posted back briefly to 25 OTU after his time with 97 Squadron in December 1942 until 4th January 1943 and then to 27 OTU but after this nothing more is known about his postings. He was later awarded the Bar to the DFC, Gazetted 12th March 1943 and the AFC, Gazetted 12th June 1947. He later transferred to the RAF Reserve as W/Co on 8th January 1950 and relinquished commission on 18th December 1953. He died in 2002. I thank his daughter Alexandra for contacting me in July 2014 and for kindly updating this account and adding the crew list shown above, as shown in her father's log book.
F/Sgt Church recovered and returned to training with 25 OTU but was then seriously injured in the crash at Finningley on 12th June 1941 when Wellington R1709 collided with Wellington N2801. He would recover from these injuries and eventually receive a posting to 106 Squadron. He was made a PoW with 106 Squadron on 26th July 1942 when Lancaster R5608 was shot down by a flak-ship on a mine laying flight, five others of the crew were killed and one other made a PoW. The aircraft crashed between the islands of d'Oleron and Ree, off
the west coast of France. The RAAF casualty report for G J Bailey RAAF (403491) states that F/Sgt Church had completed five operational sorties with 106 Squadron at the time suggesting that he had not been with this squadron long. Bailey had also trained at 25 OTU but for a short period until May 1942.
Kenneth Hart was later posted to 207 Squadron and was killed on 11th July 1942 when Lancaster L7543 failed to return from bombing Danzig U-Boat pens. He is buried in a joint grave with other members of his then crew at Marlbork War Cemetery.
Frank Morris was killed on 11th October 1941 serving with 106 Squadron. He is buried at Reichswald Forest War Cemetery.