"Beaufort L9797 crashed 6/6/40 Ashington"

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Johnnie214 (0 posts) 07-Sep-07, 08:06 AM (GMT) "Beaufort L9797 crashed 6/6/40 Ashington" Hi, Does anybody have any information about the operation that this aircraft was on when it came down? Did two of the crew bail out, or were all of the crew killed? Any advice on the crash, the crew, or the aircraft history would be great. Johnnie   Top

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Subject     Author     Message Date     ID    RE: Beaufort L9797 crashed 6/6/40 A... Amrit 07-Sep-07 1    RE: Beaufort L9797 crashed 6/6/40 A... Amrit 07-Sep-07 2  RE: Beaufort L9797 crashed 6/6/40 A... Ross_McNeill 07-Sep-07 3    RE: Beaufort L9797 crashed 6/6/40 A... Johnnie214 07-Sep-07 4        RE: Beaufort L9797 crashed 6/6/40 A... Amrit 07-Sep-07 5            RE: Beaufort L9797 crashed 6/6/40 A... Ross_McNeill 07-Sep-07 6                RE: Beaufort L9797 crashed 6/6/40 A... Johnnie214 07-Sep-07 7

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Amrit (0 posts) 07-Sep-07, 08:11 AM (GMT) 1. "RE: Beaufort L9797 crashed 6/6/40 Ashington" From: http://www.bpears.org.uk/NE-Diary/Inc/ISeq_03.html "Wednesday, 5th/Thursday, 6th June 1940 N277 Shortly after midnight enemy aircraft made a number of attacks apparently directed at aerodromes in the eastern counties. Civilian damage was very slight and no civilian casualties reported. No 1 Region also reports at Ashington an RAF bomber, which had apparently fouled a balloon cable, lost control and crashed into houses at Fifth Row. One house, (No 77) was completely demolished and two others damaged. Three civilians were killed and all lived in the same house. This aircraft was a Coastal Command Beaufort L9797 of No 22 Squadron returning to North Coates after a bombing run to Ghent. Searchlights dazzled the pilot and in trying to evade the glare, the aircraft, possibly also affected by flak damage, began to vibrate so much that he ordered the crew to bale out. He and the observer baled out safely but the wireless operator and air gunner, failed to get out and died in the crash."   Top

Amrit (0 posts) 07-Sep-07, 08:16 AM (GMT) 2. "RE: Beaufort L9797 crashed 6/6/40 Ashington" the three civilians were: Name: COX, ELEANOR Initials: E Nationality: United Kingdom Rank: Civilian Regiment/Service: Civilian War Dead Age: 49 Date of Death: 06/06/1940 Additional information: of 77 Fifth Row. Wife of Henry Cox. Died at 77 Fifth Row. Casualty Type: Civilian War Dead Reporting Authority: ASHINGTON, URBAN DISTRICT Name: COX, GLADYS AUDREY Initials: G A Nationality: United Kingdom Rank: Civilian Regiment/Service: Civilian War Dead Age: 18 Date of Death: 06/06/1940 Additional information: of 77 Fifth Row. Daughter of Henry and Eleanor Cox. Injured at 77 Fifth Row; died same day at Ashington Hospital. Casualty Type: Civilian War Dead Reporting Authority: ASHINGTON, URBAN DISTRICT Name: COX, HENRY Initials: H Nationality: United Kingdom Rank: Civilian Regiment/Service: Civilian War Dead Age: 52 Date of Death: 06/06/1940 Additional information: of 77 Fifth Row. Husband of Eleanor Cox. Died at 77 Fifth Row. Casualty Type: Civilian War Dead Reporting Authority: ASHINGTON, URBAN DISTRICT   Top

Ross_McNeill (1381 posts) 07-Sep-07, 08:25 AM (GMT) 3. "RE: Beaufort L9797 crashed 6/6/40 Ashington" Hi Johnnie, Aircraft was a Beaufort I coded OA-F from No.22 Sqn. It had taken off from RAF North Coates at 21:45 hrs on the 5th tasked with an operation to Ghent. Crew was P/O R D Westlake Sgt S G Twitchen Sgt L E T Harris Sgt P O'Flaherty Harris and O'Flaherty were the crew casualties. Regards Ross   Top

Johnnie214 (0 posts) 07-Sep-07, 09:32 AM (GMT) 4. "RE: Beaufort L9797 crashed 6/6/40 Ashington" Thanks for the information. Do you have any idea which man was the air gunner and which the W/O?   Top

Amrit (0 posts) 07-Sep-07, 09:47 AM (GMT) 5. "RE: Beaufort L9797 crashed 6/6/40 Ashington" Harris was the W/O O'Flaherty the A/G   Top

Ross_McNeill (1381 posts) 07-Sep-07, 09:54 AM (GMT) 6. "RE: Beaufort L9797 crashed 6/6/40 Ashington" Not confirmed Amrit so it should not be stated as fact. Although CWGC list Harris as WOp and O'Flaherty as AG both are recorded in the ORB as only AG trade not WOp/AG when they joined the squadron. Harris is first mentioned on 18th April 1940 and O'Flaherty on 13th May 1940 Their service numbers of 623844 and 637032 are too close together to suggest a seniority. Ross   Top

Johnnie214 (0 posts) 07-Sep-07, 10:26 AM (GMT) 7. "RE: Beaufort L9797 crashed 6/6/40 Ashington" Thanks for all of the information. Ross, I have sent you a PM about the crash/ORB etc. I hope you do not mind. Johnnie   Top

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