Fatal Fairey IIIF Crash Aden, August 1928

[paulmcmillan]

All

From Air power and colonial control: the Royal Air Force, 1919-1939‎ - Page 104

"In the Aden Protectorate between May and September the South-West Monsoon was often lade with dust, and it was one of these sandstorms which caused the fatal crash of a Fairey IIIF in August 1928 by suddenly blotting out the ground."

From Flight Global (assumed same incident)

THE Air Ministry regrets to announce that as the result of an accident at Sheikh Othman, Aden, to a Fairey III F machine of No. 8 (Bombing) Squadron, Aden, on August 14, 1928, Flight-Lieut. Edward Norman Tickner Edwardes, the pilot of the aircraft, was killed and the passenger, 362026 L.A.C. Albert Wyndham Jones was slightly injured.

Can anyone ID the Fairey ? Thanks

Paul

[Alex Smart]

Hello Paul,

Have looked through the AB RAF Aircraft J1 to J9999 and WW! Survivors book and could only find S1147 (12 Sqdn) with a connection to the date 14.8.28. However I do not think that this could be the a/c involved as it seems to have served only in the UK.

Many others are listed as serving with 8 Squadron but nothing stands out with regard to the 14.8.28.

Serial numbers are listed as
J9053 -9077;9132-9174;9637-9681;9784-9831.
N2246; 9256.
S1139-1148;1169-1206;1373-1386;1408;1457-1461;1508-1548;1787-1865.
Some aircraft were rebuilt and the serial numbers were changed with the addition of an "R" between the letter and number as example J9830 became JR9830. While some others were rebuilt as Gordons serialed in simular fashion.

I think that the a/c you seek would have to be in the early range of 9053-9077, 9132 -9174 or S1139-1148, 1169-1206 as later numbers look to be from year 1929 on.

All the very best
Alex

[paulmcmillan]

Alex

Thanks for looking - My copy of J1 -J9999 and WW1 Survivors is in storage - However I wonder if this incident is listed at the back as an unknown??

Paul

[malcolm_raf]

Paul

The quick answer is No.

Malcolm

[paulmcmillan]

Paul

The quick answer is No.

Malcolm

Malcolm

Thanks

Paul

[paulmcmillan]

Just found out that there was another Fatal Fairey F3 crash in Aden in August 1928

August 1st 1928

'As a result of an accident near Adenm to a Fairey F3 machine of No. 8 Bombing Sqn, the pilot (248736 Sgt Cecil Norman Morris) killed
and passenger 3906145 Lance-Corporal (acting Sgt) Gwilym Williams, 2nd Battalion, South Wales Borderers was slight injured"

The Times, Thursday, Aug 02, 1928

[paulmcmillan]

Update

AIR 10-1450 Report on Flying Accidents during July-Dec 1928 Page 16 Fatal (12) Fairey 3F Crashed in sandstorm: error of judgement entering storm in view of information already obtained as to weather conditions. By virtual of fact this is after another Fatal Fairey 3F incident this has to be this incident "THE Air Ministry regrets to announce that as the result of an accident at Sheikh Othman, Aden, to a Fairey III F machine of No. 8 (Bombing) Squadron, Aden, on August 14, 1928, Flight-Lieut. Edward Norman Tickner Edwardes, the pilot of the aircraft, was killed and the passenger, 362026 L.A.C. Albert Wyndham Jones was slightly injured.
"

The reason is that I can eliminate the incident on July 3st 1928 (not August 1st) "'As a result of an accident near Aden to a Fairey F3 machine of No. 8 Bombing Sqn, the pilot (248736 Sgt Cecil Norman Morris) killed and passenger 3906145 Lance-Corporal (acting Sgt) Gwilym Williams, 2nd Battalion, South Wales Borderers was slight injured"


Because I can add Lance-Corporal (acting Sgt) Gwilym Williams to my pre-war bale out record (only Army personnel recorded) - AIR 10-1449 Report on Flying Accidents during Jan-June 1928 Page II (v) An army sergeant was slightly injured in making a parachute descent, the reason for this descent not being definitely ascertained: either the pilot lost control of the aircraft and the sergeant was thrown out, or else the latter lost his head, jumped and caused the pilot to lose control; the aircraft crashed and the pilot was killed - Page 16 Fatal (11) Hours solo 58, All types 477, 2.5 hours since qualifying. Cause unknown: passenger jumped or jerked out: pilot remained and crashed -


Now only need the serial of Fairey if possible

[davew]

Paul,

In Philip Jarrett's 'Fairey IIIF' there is a photograph of a comprehensively wrecked J9059 of 8 Squadron. There is no other info other than 'may well have been a victim of the IIIF's poor spin recovery qualities'.

There is nothing at all against this serial in the J File.

Just added as a possibilty.

DaveW

[paulmcmillan]

Dave

A possibility yes thanks for looking in J serials I need to get the 8 Sqn Orb

Paul