The exact events surrounding the eventual accident to this 20 Operational Training Unit aircraft are unclear. The aircraft was down in the south of England for an unknown reason but it could not have been a training exercise. On 7th October 1943 all of those named below flew from Lossiemouth to Hixon but why is unclear. All on board appear to have been staff or instructors with 20 O.T.U. so it appears to have not been a training flight. After visiting Hixon on 7th October they then flew down to Weybridge that day. Again why they went to Weybridge is unclear, Vickers carried out Wellington repairs and modifications there and it's not beyond possibility that a modification had to be made there. Perhaps Hixon was simply to refuel? The next day the same crew flew HE283 from Weybridge to Leconfield, while not a short hop of a flight to Leconfield had they had time returning to Lossiemouth would have been possible perhaps lending weight to a modification being done early on 8th October 1943 and for them to then fly part of the way back to Scotland that day. On 9th October 1943 the crew had intended on flying from Leconfield up to Lossiemouth but not long after taking off the aircraft suffered engine failure. Having been in the air for twenty five minutes the aircraft would not maintain height and while trying to make a forced landing in poor visibility the aircraft crashed in a field near Kirkby Fleetham Hall at 10.05hrs. The aircraft caught fire on crashing and was destroyed. One of the five man crew survived.
Another question that I have been unable to answer is why a landing wasn't made at either Middleton St.George or Croft airfields if they had a problem with the aircraft, assuming the Wellington was flying a coastal route back to Lossiemouth perhaps coming inland to avoid the anti-aircraft defences of Middlesbrough.
Pilot - P/O Raymond Albert Lewis Young RAFVR (142551), aged 30, of Kenton, Middlesex. Buried Harrow Weald Cemetery, Middlesex.
Pilot - P/O Philip Samuel Garth Thornton RNZAF (NZ.403479). Seriously injured.
Pilot - F/Lt Raymond Charles Rawlings DFC RNZAF (NZ416164), aged 27, of Ravensbourne, Otago, New Zealand. Buried Cambridge City Cemetery.
Navigator - F/O Norman John Furlong DFC RAFVR (142880), aged 21, of Lee. Buried Greenwich Cemetery, London.
Wireless Operator / Air Gunner - F/O Colin Seymour RAFVR (143393), aged 22, of Benton, Newcastle. Cremated Newcastle-upon-Tyne (West Road).
Norman Furlong received a commission on 10th March 1943 to the rank of P/O on probation (emergency) and rose to F/O on probation on 10th September 1943. He was awarded the DFC for service with 10 Squadron but well after his death, Gazetted on 10th April 1945 (with effect from 8th October 1943). The citation reads "Since the commencement of his operational career, this officer has shown outstanding navigational efficiency. He has faced much adverse weather and enemy opposition with a fine spirit of determination. During an attack on (? illegible), his aircraft was repeatedly hit by the ground defences and so badly damaged that it crashed on landing. On another occasion, an enemy fighter was destroyed by his crew while on the way to attack Pilsen. This officer has faced other hazardous situations during recent raids on Hamburg and Saarbrucken. Throughout all these sorties he has completed his work as navigator with exceptional courage and ability."
Raymond Rawlings had earlier been posted from 1652 HCU to 158 Squadron on 11th April 1943, he then completed a tour with 158 Squadron and was awarded the DFC for service with them, Gazetted after his death on 12th November 1943. His brother was killed less than six weeks previously in the crash of Mosquito HK182 at Drem airfield and they are buried along side each other in Cambridge.
Raymond Young received a commission on 22nd March 1943.
Colin Seymour received a commission on 19th March 1943.
Philip Thornton was born on 1st September 1915 and enlisted for service in the RNZAF in September 1940. He had flown Wellingtons off Malta / North Africa with 104 Squadron in 1941 sustaining injuries on 22nd October 1941 when Wellington Z8411 crashed at Luqa that killed one of his crew, this saw him in hospital for six months on Malta. He was later posted back to the UK and eventually to join 20 OTU. He died on 13th November 1998, aged 83 years and is buried in Tolaga Bay Cemetery. I thank his grandson for contacting me in May 2022 and for suppling additional information as to the nature of the flight.
Wellington HE283 was built to contract 124362/40 by Vickers Armstrong at Chester and was received by 48 MU on 22nd February 1943. On 20th May 1943 it was taken on charge by 20 OTU at Lossiemouth. On 7th August 1943 it was deemed in need of a repair by a team from Vickers at Weybridge. Once ready it was returned to 20 OTU on 11th September 1943. as a result of the crash on 9th October 1943 Cat.E/FA Burnt damage was the damage assessment and it was struck off charge the following day. It had clocked up a total of 214 hours flying time from new.
Back to monthly table.