St.Merryn/HMS Vulture fatal accident.
 

Hello,
Seeking details of a fatal accident at St. Merryn/HMS Vulture.

Date of death is given as September 11th, 1947.
Airman was - Alan Roy WORTH, Air Mechanic(E)2c L/FX.797592
Newspaper report dated the 13th suggests that Worth was a passenger in a Firefly and that he suffered a fractured skull from being struck by a propeller blade.

As far as I am aware only 736 and 741 FAA Squadrons were based at St. Merryn with Firefly's. But accept that a/c from other nearby based squadrons may have been at St. Merryn on the date of Worth's death. I would also accept that it was an earlier accident date and that he finally surcumed on the 11th.
However having searched I can find no other reference to this accident other than a reference in Naval-History.net and his CWGC details.
Confirmation of aircraft type and possible serial number and pilot would be most welcome.

Thanks
Alex

Re: St.Merryn/HMS Vulture fatal accident.
 

Hello,

Firstly, members should take note of the following:-

http://www.rafcommands.com/forum/sho...men-11-09-1947

The only incident I have found to date (there could be others), is the following:

Fairey Firefly F.I - DK507 (FR.I).

719 Sqn Eglinton 8.46 to 13.12.46.
Eglinton 1.47.
741 Sqn St Merryn - bounced on landing , cropped prop 11.9.47 (Mr JG Braine).
AHU Lossiemouth to Arbroath 20.4.48.
RDU Culham 1.49.
814 Sqn ('218/Q') 9.3.49.
RDU Anthorn 28.2.51 - 1.52.
Fairey, Ringway by 7.4.52 - @ 12.6.52.
RDU Antorn 6.7.52.
SOC 8.6.55
Sold for Scrap.

See:
Fleet Air Arm Fixed-Wing Aircraft since 1946.
Sturtivant,R. Burrow,M & L Howard.
Tonbridge:Air-Britain (Historians),2004.
p.230

Re: St.Merryn/HMS Vulture fatal accident.
 

Hello Col,

Thank you for your reply, I had looked at that one and also DK512 which had an "emergency hydraulic failure on the 6-9-47 and a tail wheel hydraulic failure" on the 10-9-47 nothing mentioned about a prop though :( but the 6 & 10-9-47 would fit if Worth was injured earlier than the 11th the date of death but we do not have evidence to support that possibility.
So you may well have the a/c involved, but as you say there could be other contenders .

Many thanks
Alex