410517 - Unaccounted airmen - 17-5-1941

[davew]

I have the Hurricane colliding with the Wellington, the latter coming down at Prickwillow, NE of Ely (Chorley). However all the fatalities are registered at Cambridge where I would have expected the Wellington deaths at least to be registered at Ely.

Note that where Chorley Has 'DG Gray', CWGC and Death Register have 'GD Gray'.

'McDairmid' is the spelling on the death register.

Another mystery.

regards

DaveW

[NiallC]

P/O McDiermid Killed - Foreman - Turning Point Part 2

Though I can't find him on CWGC!

Paul

I think this is your man (although no unit given)

Iain Robertson MACDIARMID, DFC

http://www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_details.aspx?casualty=2456001

Niall

[Henk Welting]

Thanks for info on MacDIARMID; also Lyffe will be a happy man.
Regards,
Henk.

[Lyffe]

(I'm never happy Henk - just the original grumpy old man)

Dave/Paul,

Because of my interest in Met Flights any chance can you provide any more information (off board if you'd prefer) about this incident. At the time 1401 Met Flight was based at Mildenhall (10 KM southeast from Prickwillow) and equipped with Gladiators; consideration was being given to replacing them with the Hurricane, and one, possibly two, were being trialed with this in view.

Unfortunately the 1401 Met Flight ORB does not start until Feb 1942, after 1401 had moved to Bircham Newton; I have been unable to find anything of a similar vein to cover its time at Mildenhall. (And before anyone suggests AIR14/316, that doesn't contain anything relevant.)

The Mildenhall connection explains the deaths being registered in Cambridge.

Brian

[paulmcmillan]

Name: for Iain Robertson MacDiarmid or McDiarmid

- The London Gazette has BOTH Spellings!

He was aged 24

There is an Ian MacDiarmid both in Scotland in Glasgow City in 1917 - Which would be OK for his parents living in Kilcreggan

[BC1]

McDairmid's Hurricane (V7225, an ex-87 Sqn BoB machine) crashed at Lark Farm, Soham Fen. Wellington R1587 OJ-M of 149 Sqn crashed at Low Barn Farm, Prickwillow. A member of the ROC (Post B3, Soham) plotted four Wellingtons flying E-W at 5,000 ft when the Hurricane dived steeply from cloud above and ahead. It completely severed the tail section of OJ-M, losing part of the port wing before it dived inverted into the ground. Several crewmen from the Wellington jumped but too low for their parachutes to open.
The site of Hurricane V7225, which was one of two Hurricanes only recently arrived at 1401 Flt Mildenhall at the time of the accident, was excavated by a consortium of East Anglian groups in Jan 1985. Among the items recovered were the control column, remains of radiator, aircraft and meteorological instruments, leather flying helmet from pilot, and a King George III penny.

BC

[Lyffe]

Many thanks BC - I've emailed you.

Brian

[Ross_McNeill]

Hi Henk,

F/Sgt Dunmore who died from injuries on the 17th was the instructor pilot Sgt Dunmore who was injured in the No.58 OTU Master T8780 crash on 5-5-41.

He was taken to Larbert Military Hospital after the crash.

The No.58 OTU RoH link given has a couple of errors so needs to be checked before use.

Regards
Ross

[phill jones]

Henk , with regard to Spitfire N3046 , this a/c did not arrive at 53 OTU until26/8/41.

i have it with 57 OTU, 10/5/41,IT RAN OUT OF FUEL ON APPROACH AND CRASHED SEALAND 17/5/41, CAT E ,
the ORB FOR 57 OTU DOES NOT MENTION THE CRASH

[Henk Welting]

Thanks Phill. 53 OTU was in Air Britain and Air Britain's Aeromilitaria. You mention 53 OTU not before 26-8-1941 what means that the aircraft was repaired after the incident on 17-5-1941.
Regards,
Henk.