512 Sqn - Dakota FD899 - 6-10-1943

Hello,

Can someone tell me if Colin Cummings has covered the above loss in his, "Though Without Anger"?

Col.

Hi Col

Yes he did, what do you want to know?

Malcolm

Hi Malcolm,

Thanks.

I have full details of aircraft and crew/passenger loss. The thing that annoys me is, every time I review the file I find a contemporary reference from The Times (October 7, 1943. p.2) stating that; "One occupant baled out and landed in a street near by". I have never been able to prove, or disprove this statement.

I have nine crew/passengers as killed, with no mention of anyone baling-out. What does CC have to say?

Col.

Hi Col

Like you he states 9 killed and no mention of anyone bailing out

Malcolm

Malcolm,

I appreciate the look-up.

I'll leave the offending ref in the file, with a note to disregard it in the future.

For future reference, here is what I have:

6/10/1943
No.512 Sqn.
Dakota III FD899

Detailed to carry out an air test, the Dakota collided with two balloon cables, one of which completely severed 15 feet of the port main plane. The aircraft crashed at the Bernhard Baron Pavilllion, Regent's Park, London, and was destroyed by fire. There were no survivors among the nine crew/passengers.

119168 F/O (1st Pilot) James Allan ROBERTSON RAFVR +
J/20934 F/O (2nd Pilot) Theodore Myroslaw HAWRYLUK RCAF +
AUS412408 F/Sgt (W.Op./Air Gnr.) Henry Edgar DENNIS RAAF +
1500925 AC1 (FME) Ronald Eric PENN RAFVR +
1279173 AC1 (FME) Hugh Richard PHILLIPS RAFVR +
1399658 AC2 (FRE) Kenneth Thomas DING RAFVR +
1355333 AC2 (F2A) Dudley Austin WESTCOTT RAFVR +
1800466 AC2 (F2A) Ronald Douglas BROWN RAFVR +
1213183 LAC (FMA) Jack Leonard HOUGHTON RAFVR + (Not HOUGHTO, as on CWGC)

See: Storr: Vol.8. p.102 of 484. (With additions and corrections).

Feel free to correct/amend, if necessary.

Col.