2 Additional Gauntlet Collisions Nov 1937 Please CONFIRM Crew allocation

**paulmcmillan** · 28th December 2022, 14:47

23.11.37 Gauntlet II K5344 & K5348, 17 Sqn, Kenley
Midair collision at night, Farthing Downs, near Coulsdon
Plt Off Keith Victor Keen (24) killed was flying K5344
Plt Off Montague Percival Richards (21) killed was flying K5348

24.11.37 Gauntlet II K7849 & K7871, 66 Sqn, Duxford durimng section attack training flight
Midair collision, near Royston, Herts
Plt Off Leonard Melville Beavis (24) killed Was flying K7849
Sgt Arthur Dumbell Smith #580153 baled out; injured leg flying K7871. Smith died of wounds in BoB (6th Sept 1940)

**Ross_McNeill** · 4th January 2023, 16:34

Got round to that part of MF16_04

Both incidents confirmed as per your crew allocation

Ross

**Alex Smart** · 4th January 2023, 19:21

Just to add that Gauntlet K5349, 17 Sqdn also crashed on the 23/11/37. Writtenoff ,damaged beyond repair. Who was its pilot ?

**Alex Smart** · 4th January 2023, 19:26

Hi, it seems that Sgt. Arthur Dumbell SMITH bailed from Spitfire N3048, 66 Sqdn on the 4th September, and died of wounds on the 6th September, 1940.

**paulmcmillan** · 5th January 2023, 07:00

Ross Thanks

23-11-1937 appears a bad day for RAF - The pilot of Gauntlet K5349, 17 Sqdn is unknown but 3 Sqn lost Gladiator K7896 Pilot P/O Harold Edward Vickery at Warlingham/Woldingham which has confused both incidents over time

**davew** · 5th January 2023, 10:59

Gents

I have this note re K7896, unfortunately I omitted to note the source.

P/O Vickery was 'coming by train' to Kenley on 23 November 1937 in K7896, i.e. following the Ashford to Redhill railway line, flying low due to weather: Suddenly, immediately ahead, the entrance to the tunnel north of Oxted appeared out of the murk with high ground above it [he had forgotten this]. Yanking back on the stick, he put the aircraft into a steep climb, but with insufficient speed, the aircraft stalled and fell on the sharply rising hill near Warlingham. The only injuries to P/O Vickery were a sprained ankle and a dent to his pride, but it took a very long time to recover the damaged aircraft from its precarious position"

DaveW