Mustangs AG515 and AP199 41 OTU

[SteveBrooking]

On 14/1/43 these two aircraft collided during unauthorised low-level formation flying over Whitchurch in Shropshire. Both the pilots P/Off R G Beevers 127994 and P/Off R R Heathcote A406850 were killed.

Is it possible to identify which pilot was in which aircraft.

Thanks for your help

Steve

[paulmcmillan]

Yes

http://naa12.naa.gov.au/scripts/imagine.asp?B=1069509&I=1&SE=1


HEATHCOTE, Raphael Rex - (Pilot officer); Service Number - 406850; File type - Casualty - Repatriation; Aircraft - Mustang AP 199; Place - Cheshire, England; Date - 14 January 1943

[SteveBrooking]

Thanks very much Paul could you try to turn these around a bit faster in future ;-)

Steve

[COL BRUGGY]

Hello Gents,

Don't trust the Titling on NAA A705s.

Here is what the Court of Inquiry has to say:-

3rd Witness.

No.112007 Flying Officer WRITCHESLEY LEGGE MONTAGUE DENNY, R.A.F.V.R. of No. 41 O.T.U., stationed at R.A.F. Station HAWARDEN, states:-

I am Flying Instructor (Q) employed in No.41 O.T.U., stationed at R.A.F. Station, HAWARDEN, and am deputy flight commander of "B" Flight. I produce in evidence R.A.F. Form 1575 ( the flight authorisation book) relating to the day 14th January, 1943.

Order Serial No. 14 authorised Pilot Officer BEEVERS to carry out Low Mission Sortie in the WHITCHURCH district in aircraft Mustang I.a. AP.199 duration of flight 1 hour 15 minutes. The flight was properly authorised in column (h) and initialled in column (i) by the Pilot.

Order Serial No.16 authorised Pilot Officer HEATHCOTE to carry out Low Mission Sortie in the WEM district in aircraft Mustang I AG.515. Duration of flight 1 hour 15 minutes. The flight was properly authorised in column (h) and initialled in column (i) by the Pilot.

Pilot Officer BEEVERS took off at 1425 hours and Pilot Officer HEATHCOTE took off at 1415 hours.

Neither pilot returned to base at the expiration of the authorised flight and at 1630 hours overdue action was initiated... and so on.

See: NAA: 166/17/20 pp.16-22.

Col.

[thorne83]

Indeed Col is right and the aircraft did come down in Shropshire rather than Cheshire. A civilian, Miss D McLellan was also seriously injured on the ground when she was struck by one of the aircraft's machine guns as it smashed through the roof of a garage where she was standing and came to rest in a hearse!

Cheers,

Tom