Scion crash Wednesday March 15 1944, a day relived

[robin bird]

On March 15 1944 the Short Scion experimental flying boat L9765 crashed after take off from Helensburgh. The pilot and a young scientist James Hamilton survived, the other passenger drowned. Hamilton later became Sir James for his work on Concorde. I am about to write an article marking this day for publication in Helensburgh. If any members of the Commands forum has info or pictures of L9786 (corrected) I would be interested to see them. The pilot was Flying Officer John Richardson Johnson. I would particulary like to know his RAF career details and date of death.

[Andy Marden]

Robin,
I think you mean L9786.
Andy

[Don Clark]

Andy is right, L9786 Short Scion Senior (G-AETH reserved but not taken up), the RAF serial recorded in the db here albeit with incomplete reserved civil reg.
L9765 is not a valid serial, it lies in a black-out block. Both confirmed by Halley RAF Aircraft L1000-N9999 (Air Britain 1993)

L9786 is also recorded at ASN here: https://aviation-safety.net/wikibase/19001
Wikipedia carries a photo noted as Public domain, Crown copyright expired.
If there's a source image in the Imperial War Museum collection I couldn't spot it.

[davew]

The Aviation Photo Co has an image of L9786, it can be viewed here https://www.aviationphotocompany.com...EDC8#h74b4edc8

DaveW

[paulmcmillan]

I think he is John Richard JOHNSON ( 48373).



RESERVE OF AIR FORCE OFFICERS.
ADMINISTRATIVE AND SPECIAL DUTIES
BRANCH.
Appointment to commission (class CC): —
As Fit. Llts. : —
John Richard JOHNSON. 30th Nov. 1945

[paulmcmillan]

He went to work with BOAC after the war and is referred to in relation to news reports concerning investigation into Comet G-ALYP, Loss of Elba in 10 Jan 1954 10 January 1954

.. —the last stage before that on which the disaster occurred off Elba. said that the aircraft behaved normally. Captain John Richard Johnson, who was in command of the B.0 A C. Argonaut How Jig. which took o ff from Rome Airport after the ill-fated Come:. ...

Published: Thursday 21 October 1954
Newspaper: Liverpool Echo
County: Lancashire, England
Type: | Words: 595 | Page: 34 | Tags: none
Daily News (London)
COMET'S LAST REPLY WAS BROKEN OFF
... Comet, The voice was that of Captain Alan Gibson. the Comet pilot. The man who received the broken message was Captain John Richard Johnson. a witness yesterday at the second day of the crash Inqu:rv. Captain Johnson said: I asked Yoke Peter how high the ...

Published: Thursday 21 October 1954
Newspaper: Daily News (London)
County: London, England
Type: | Words: 399 | Page: 5 | Tags: none

[robin bird]

thank your for your response and about Johnson and the Comet crash. Many of these RAF Helensburgh pilots had interesting aviation careers during and after the war.