Death of W/C Lance Wade
 

Hi All

On the Air Britain forum there has come up a problem regarding the death of W/C Lance Wade on 12 Jan 1944

It has previously been reported he was killed in an Auster at Foggia.
This "fact" is also repeatedly stated everywhere on the 'Net, even to such an extent that one source says it was a twin-engined Auster....

An answer has been received that Wade died, not in an Auster, but in a Spitfire Mk Vc JK603.
Unfortunately that cannot be verified by looking at the known (to me) data of that aircraft in question.

Does anyone on this forum know exactly in what aircraft Wade was flying on his last flight?

B Rgds
Stig

Re: Death of W/C Lance Wade
 

Wade had joined HQ Desert Air Force in Nov 1943, therefore he was not on 145 Sqn at the time, though his death is mentioned in their ORB and is noted as a flying accident

Frank Olynyk in "Stars and Bars" records his death in an Auster at Foggia (MT415 ?)

His demise is not mentioned in Mediterranean Air War, so assume not operational

Spitfire The History records JK603 = VC(T)M50, 15MU 14/2/1943, 76MU 4/2/1943, Fort McL 21/3/1943, Casa 6/4/1943, NWA 30/4/1943, Malta 1/7/1943, Sic NAAF 1/11/1943, SOC 8/3/1944

Air Britain Aircraft JA100-JZ999 JK603 = 93 Sqn SOC 8/3/1944

Air Britain Aircraft MA100-MZ999 MT415 = Auster III North Africa DBR in Accident 12/1/1944


Regards

Martin

Re: Death of W/C Lance Wade
 

Invited to gigantic "lunch party" by the officers of the 57th FG (Almendola)

After the meal well watered,he takes leave of his hosts,SEEMS to do be doing a barrel roll with his Spit V JK603 over a group of officers,half of it,the plane collapses and crashes.
michel

Re: Death of W/C Lance Wade
 

Martin

The accident to MT415 happened 10 Jan 1944 when it taxied over a land mine which exploded.
MT415 was SOC 12 Jan 1944.

Michel

Since the incident to Wade is reported at Foggia where I assume Amendola could well be what was ment, can you please state your source for that detail?

B Rgds
Stig

Re: Death of W/C Lance Wade
 

Biography L.C. Wade "the wildcat of the desert" by Many Souffan in french mag. Aces (2017) today disappeared.

michel

Re: Death of W/C Lance Wade
 

Thanks Michel

Perhaps Many care to expand on his sources for that very interesting detail?

Cheers
Stig

Re: Death of W/C Lance Wade
 

In the online book 57th Fighter Group: First in the Blue (Carl Molesworth) it says that W/C Wade had visited Col. Salisbury and friends of that FG at Amendola.

In another online book, RAF WWII Operational and Flying Accident Files in the National Archives (Mary Hudson, 2020) there's a picture of the funeral of W/C Wade with RAF and USAAF personnel attending and a British and American chaplain officiating.

Regards,
Leendert

Re: Death of W/C Lance Wade
 

All

I have had a more detailed answer on the Air Britain forum and it is now
confirmed to have been the Spitfire JK603.
It is listed as such with the Air Historical Branch and data taken from a casualty index in their possession.

So Many was right!! :)

Cheers
Stig

Re: Death of W/C Lance Wade
 

Hello all.

It seems I come too late. Sorry.

It was able to me to have From PMA (Personnel Management Agency of RAF) a copy of the military file of Lance C. Wade with the help of his brother Oran Wade.

It is in this document that I read for the first time the Spitifire Mk V JK 603

There were also one letter in the family From an american officer who was there this 12 juanary 1944. which related the end of this great Pilot.

I give you the end of my article about the last moments of Lance Wade, forgive me for my bad English and translation.

Lance Wade flies his last mission on November 7. Three days later, he ispromoted to Wing Commander and join the forward headquarters of Desert Air Force. He does his job, he flies from time to time, he is able to keep his personal plane a Saiman. The Man is appreciated for what he is and for his views. It is proposed for the DSO, On January 12, 1944, he took off on the Spitfire Mk V JK603, for Almendola for a “Lunch Party” given by the American officers of the 57th FG. The meal is gargantuan, the wine is flowing, there are women from the Red Cross.
Colonel Salisbury the commanding officer of 57th FG has become a good friend of Lance Wade since their first meeting. At each encounter, invariably, always with a smile, Salisbury offers him to join his unit. This 12 juanary 1944, the American commander commander gets up paint a laudatory portrait of Lance Wade, the latter is blushing. In front of the guests, Salisbury reiterates his proposal not without humor. Lance Wade refuse for the umpteenth time, and raise his glass to the assembly in token of thanks. A quite a lot glasses will follow…
For dessert, after a coffee and a cigarette, "Wildcat Wade" interrupts the conversation to say that he has to go ; he has a meeting in thirty minutes. He apologizes for going in hiding, but several of the guests want to accompany him to his brand new Spitfire. He climbs into his kite, weaves his way through other planes present, and takes off. His companions quietly turn back to the "Party" when they hear the peculiar sound of the Merlin engine coming back towards them. Indeed the plane is rather at low altitude, passes over them, it seems that Lance Wade is trying to roll over, halfway through it, the plane collapses, crashes, ans flames. The man who wanted to die after a good dogfight misses his exit. The military cemetery of Termoli, in this January 15, is filled first of all its unit, pilots and mechanics, of the 244 Wing of all VIP of the Desert Air Force, Lance left his generous mark on those who have known him. Ten days later, the London Gazette announced its DSO for war not posthumously.

Thank you.

Re: Death of W/C Lance Wade
 

Salut Many


This is some fascinating detail.


Do you have any material about Wade's time with 33 Squadron in the desert during CRUSADER?


All the best


Andreas

Re: Death of W/C Lance Wade
 

Bonjour Andreas.

Yes, I have some materials about Wade's time with 33 squadron during Crusader.

Thank You.

Ps. Don't forget I follow your CRUSADER Project, it's fantastic, even I don't ask or write...

Re: Death of W/C Lance Wade
 

What a pitty...and tragic end...

I have read on many books, stories and histories of airmen that took off with hangovers and after drinking quite a lot of booze.

Am not sure if he was adict to alcohool, if he used to drink and fly the next day, etc...but could something else, like the belt buckle locking the control; or the seat becoming torn loose or mal-adjusted and interfering with the controls, be the responsible for his crashing?

It simply does not fit at all...most of those young airmem drunk a lot and always flew their missions early in the morning. It "became a routine" for them...at least for some of them. We do know cases and cases of airmen who simply do not put an ounce of alcohol onto their mouths...

Is the "accident card" available somewhere, or the results of the accident investigation board? For me, something else blocked his controls and he was unable to finish the roll or return to an horizontal straight and level flight...

A.