Lysander P9119 near Wath-on-Dearne.

On 16th January 1941 this 4 Squadron aircraft suffered engine failure in the air, the pilot attempted to force land the aircraft near Wath-on-Dearne in bad weather but struck a wall and wrecked the aircraft.

Pilot - P/O Algernon Christopher Chaldecott RAF (42999).


Algernon Chaldecott was born in Marylebone, London in 1918. He was serving in the Territorial Army in the mid-1930s and was made 2nd Lieutenant in the Royal Engineers (Territorial Army) on 29th November 1938, he later volunteered to join the RAF and was granted a temporary commission of P/O with the RAF on 7th March 1940. He was then promoted to F/O (war subs) on 7th March 1941, and then to F/Lt on 7th March 1942. He was Mentioned in Despatches on 1st January 1943. He survived the War but remained in the RAF until he relinquished his commission of F/Lt in the RAF on 19th May 1947 on appointment to the RAFVR. He dropped a rank but was later promoted to F/Lt on 1st March 1951, with seniority back dated to 19th May 1947. On 19th May 1952 he relinquished his commission in the RAFVR.
Lysander P9119 was built to contract 981730/39 by The Westland Aircraft Company Ltd. at Yeovil and was completed in February 1940 as a Mk.II but was retained by the makers and converted to Mk.III status. It was awaiting collection in July 1940 and taken on charge by 4 Squadron at Linton on Ouse on an unknown date. It sustained Cat.E2/FA damage as a result of the accident in January 1941 as stated over.

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