[alex crawford]

Hi,

I have the following info on Warwick V PN749 from 6 OTU that crashed on 16th May 1946.

The Warwick was circling Leuchars when the port engine failed. The aircraft lost height and crashed on the main Newport-St Andrews roads and burst into flames. All five crewmen were killed. John Driscoll, a 19 year ploughman who was working in an adjacent field later reported;

‘I saw a two engine aeroplane circling the aerodrome and it seemed to be in trouble. It was flying very low and the engines were banging. A short distance away from me the port engine stopped and the aeroplane went into a dive. I thought it was going to come into the field, but it swerved and crashed onto the road. It immediately burst into flames.’

Airmen from the aerodrome tried to get into the Warwick to rescue the crew but they were driven back by the flames. The station fire brigade as well as units from St Andrews and other areas tackled the blaze. The road was closed for two days while an investigation was carried out.

As yet I have still to identify the crew. From a search of the CWGC using Geoffs search engine I have found five possibilities.

Flt Sgt N F Bates, 1584225, pilot
Wt Off J A Willmott, 1801146, pilot.
Flt Sgt S V Titchener, 1850792, nav.
Flt Sgt G R Green, 1867362, WOP/AG.
Wt Off J P Magee, 1820581, WOP/AIR.

Would anyone know if any of the above were part of the Warwick crew?

Any help appreciated.

Alex