Oxford 20/11/39 barrage balloon
 

Hi guys

On 20 Novmber 1939 an Oxford flew into a barrage balloon and two were killed. Has anyone any information, please?

Cheers
Brian

Re: Oxford 20/11/39 barrage balloon
 

Hello Brian,

These two men are the only two deceased on 20/11/1939 to be found on the CWGC-site:

Flying Officer Duncan Robinson Anderson, RCAF, C/204, age 38, 20/11/1939, Pointe Claire Lakeview Memorial Gardens, Canada

Sergeant (Pilot) A.G. Nicholson, RAF 700161, age 23, 20/11/1939, Kingsland (St. Michael) Churchyard, UK Pilot Officer (Pilot) Henry Noel

On 21/11/1939 the CWGC lists one casualty:

Masterson, RAF 42069, age 20, 21/11/1939, Mount Jerome Cemetery, Ireland


Regards,

Bart

Re: Oxford 20/11/39 barrage balloon
 

Thanks Bart - and apologies.

I should have mentioned that this was a BOAC Oxford, which I now know to have been G-AFFM, so the two deceased would have been civilians.

Details still required, please.

Cheers
Brian

Re: Oxford 20/11/39 barrage balloon
 

Air Britian Oxford File has this as G-AFFM c/n 75, L4538 - Not delivered to RAF, retained by Airspeed and loaned to Britsih Airways 10.38 for radio-navigation trials; flw iunto ballon barrage over Gosport 20.11.39 and crashed and Damaged beyond repair - with 2 killed (not named)

Re: Oxford 20/11/39 barrage balloon
 

Thanks Paul

I assume the crew were British Airways/BOAC. Anyone know their identities?

Cheers
Brian

Re: Oxford 20/11/39 barrage balloon
 

The Times Tuesday Nov 21st 1939 has

"Two Killed in Aeroplane Crash

The pilot and the radio operator were killed when a civil aeroplane crashed near Gosport, Hants, yesterday after hitting a cable. The pilot, Arthur George Nicholson was 23. Before the war he flew on the Heston to Warsaw route for British Airways. He was a native of Aylesbury Bucks, and was married. The radio operator, Arthur Edward Eady, a Londoner was 27. he too, was a married man and before the war was with British Airways, serving on the Scandinavian and Brussels routes.

Re: Oxford 20/11/39 barrage balloon
 

The Times on Nov 22nd has an Air Ministry communique report that confirms hit ballon barrages

Re: Oxford 20/11/39 barrage balloon
 

Many thanks indeed, Paul, really appreciated.

From knowing very little about this incident a few days ago, I now have more or less all the information required.

Excellent
Cheers
Brian