RNVR website?

**Nick Powell** · 2nd January 2008, 21:38

Hello all
I am looking for info on a trainee naval flier, is there a website that anyone can recommend
the man in question is:-

Sub-Lieutenant (A) ROBERT CHARLES REEDER

H.M.S. Godwit., Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve
who died age 22
on 02 January 1944

TIA Nick

**Amrit** · 2nd January 2008, 21:51

FAA, 758 Sqn, Godwit, air crash

REEDER, Robert C, Ty/Sub Lieutenant (A), RNVR, killed

WATSON, James C V K, Ty/Lieutenant Commander, RNVR, killed

http://www.naval-history.net/xDKCas1944-01JAN.htm

**Amrit** · 2nd January 2008, 21:55

And this has more detals about him

http://www.bansteadhistory.com/Memorial/2_R.html

**Nick Powell** · 2nd January 2008, 22:00

Thanks Amrit
I found the Banstead website straight after posting my message. I will take a look at the other one now.
The control tower at HMS Godwit is now B&B!Very modern looking.
Thanks again.
Nick

**Errol Martyn** · 2nd January 2008, 23:41

Nick,

Air-Britain's 'Fleet Air Arm Aircraft, 1939-1945' records his fate as follows:

Airspeed Oxford MP299
To RN 9.8.43; 758 Sqn Hinstock 8.43; Lost control at low level, spun in out of cloud nr the Wrekin, Cat Z2 2.1.44 (L/C JCVK Watson & S/L RC Reeder killed).

According to the index, he is also mentioned in connection with the histories of Proctor P6071, Seafire NX963 & Vega Gull P5986.

Errol

**Nick Powell** · 3rd January 2008, 18:50

Thanks for that Errol

Any Idea what cat Z2 means.
Is there any chance you could let me know what connection there is with the Seafire Proctor and Vega Gull were.
I am right that HMS Godwit was a Instrument and blind flying training establishment?
Once again many thanks
Nick

**Errol Martyn** · 3rd January 2008, 20:58

Nick,

758 Sqn was at the time headquartered at Hinstock (one of the stations that came under HMS Godwit) and acted as "the Naval Advanced Instrument Flying School. Detachments were sent to the main specialist flying schools at Crail, East Haven Fearn, Hinstock and Yeovilton to provide a short instrument flying course for pupils. By 1944 it had over 100 Oxfords, and other types were also in use. There were three Rover units, being 'X' Flight wiht 6 Oxfords and 2 Tiger Moths, 'Y' Flight with 2 Oxfords and a Harvard, and 'Z' Flight with 5 Ansons. 'Z' Flight was a Calibration Flight, being also responsible for the development of landing and homing aids...' [Air-Britain's 'Squadrons of the Fleet Air Arm].

Z2 = Beyond economical repair; to be struck off charge and disposed of as scrap.

Proctor P6071 - ...781 Sqn...taxying too fast, ran into van parked on peritrack, Cat X 29.4.43 (S/L RC Reeder).
[Cat X - can be made serviceable by local resources.]

Seafire NX963 - ...Lee Storage Section, stalled landing, breaking u/c, Cat Y 25.7.43 (S/L Reeder of 781 Sqn); 859 Sqn Yeovilton 3.44-11.44.
[Cat Y = cannot be made serviceable locally but considered worth repair elsewhere.]

Vega Gull P5986 - ...781 Sqn Lee 11.3.43 ('L9H'); collided with banki in dispersal bay, Cat Z 14.8.43 (S/L RC Reeder OK).
[Cat Z = likely to be struck off charge]

Errol

**Nick Powell** · 3rd January 2008, 21:46

Thanks very much for that Errol.
He seemed a bit accident prone!!
or do you think one could expect several incidents like this as a matter of course.

In the following extract.
Seafire NX963 - ...Lee Storage Section, stalled landing, breaking u/c, Cat Y 25.7.43 (S/L Reeder of 781 Sqn);

859 Sqn Yeovilton 3.44-11.44.
What does this part refer to?

All the best Nick

**Errol Martyn** · 3rd January 2008, 23:46

Nick,

Yes, he seems to have been as much a menace on the ground as in the air!

"859 Sqn Yeovilton 3.44-11.44.
What does this part refer to?"

Just that the aircraft was subsequently repaired and later saw service with 859 Sqn.

Errol