Hector losses

[alex crawford]

Hi,

I'm going through my Hawker Hector files in an attempt to update some of the info.

Does anyone have any details of the following losses?

8th Sept 1941 K8096, 18MU. Pilot killed
11th April 1942 K8126, 2 GTS. Pilot killed
13th April 1942 K9738, 101 GOTU. Pilot injured.

Regards,

Alex

[Peter Clare]

Alex,


The following is taken from 'Though Without Anger' - Cummings

Hope its a help

Regards
Peter


11 April 1942 K8126 Hector 2 GTS Half mile south of Weston on the Green

The aircraft was towing a glider and the combination entered cloud. The glider pilot released the tow and
made a forced landing safely but the tug carried on in cloud before reappearing at about 300 feet above the
ground in a gentle descent but on an even keel. The aircraft continued in this attitude until it struck the
ground. The cause of the accident is obscure but it it seems possible that the tug pilot did not revert to
visual flying when he cleared the cloud, although one might have thought he would be aware of his
surroundings,even if flying on instruments. The patch of cloud had formed in the area because of a
sudden deterioration in the weather


13 April 1942 K9738 Hector 101GOTU Kelmscott, Oxfordshire

The aircraft was engaged on a cross country sortie and was towing a pair of Hotspurs. During a turn, one of the gliders got above the tug aircraft and caused the tug's nose to be pulled down, at which point both glider pilots pulled off the tow and landed but the tug pilot was unable to recover from the induced dive before his aircraft struck the ground. Although it was judged that the tug pilot was too low, a decision was made to cease double towing of gliders.

[Alex Smart]

Hello Alex,
K8096
Flew into high ground while lost in cloud on Ferry Flight Binbrook - Dumfries, Red Pike, Wastedale, Cumberland 8.9.41 pilot killed.
Two names come to mind, A D Moss and J A Craig DFC am I near ?

Alex

[alex crawford]

Hi guys,

Thanks for your replies, much appreciated.

Peter,

Does this book contain a lot of info on Glider tugs? I have about 30 accidents relating to Hector glider tugs that I need info on.

Alex,

According to the CWGC Fly Off James Anderson Craig DFC is buried in Beath Cemetery, Ayrshire. LAC (Pilot) Arthur Dennis Moss is buried in Montrose Cemetery.

No unit details for both pilots are given but it looks as though it could be Fly Off Craig as he is buried in the right location and I don't think they used Hectors for pilot training.

Where was 8 MU based?

Alex

[dp_burke]

David Earls book, "Hell on High Ground" places F/O Craig on Hector K8096. I'm at work so I can't recall if its Vol. 1 or Vol. 2 of his works.

have you ordered the aircraft crashes cards from RAF Hendon, might solve this query?

[Peter Clare]

Originally Posted by alex crawford

Peter,

Does this book contain a lot of info on Glider tugs? I have about 30 accidents relating to Hector glider tugs that I need info on.

Alex

Alex,

The book lists around 40 Hector losses but not all glider tugs. If you post your list of Hector's I'll have a look. Date of loss/accident would help.

Regards
Peter

[alex crawford]

Hi guys,

Thanks for your replies. I found this on J A Craig DFC.

http://www.aircrew-saltire.org/lib103.htm

I'll post a list of Hectors later today.

Alex

[Henk Welting]

Alex,
Nothing on K9738.

For K8096: on the strength of 1 SAC but used by 18 MU. Ferry Dumfries to Catterick. Crashed Red Pike Mountain, Mosedale, 2 miles N of Water Water, Lake District, Cumbria. F/O J.A. CRAIG - DFC - 70146 killed.

For K8126: Sgt J.S. ROBERTS - 659164 killed; aircraft crashed ½ mile SW of Weston-on-the-Green (death of the pilot registered at Ploughley).

Regards,
Henk.

[alex crawford]

Hi Henk,

Thanks for the info, much appreciated.

dp_burke,

I have a number of F1180 cards on order, but I have nearly 50 Hector accidents to look into so it's going to take a while to purchase them all. I'm also working my way through the FlightGlobal archives. Can't get on the Times website just now, some sort of problem.

Peter,

I'm trying to get a copy of the book. Some further Hector accidents.

18/05/41 GTS Thame, K9751
22/05/41 GTS Thame, K9775
28/05/41 GTS Thame, K9782
03/07/41 GTS Thame, K8119
06/07/41 GTS Thame, K9723
22/09/41 GTS Thame, K9762
11/01/42 2 GTS, K9785
26/04/42 2 GTS, K9765
19/05/42 102 GOTU, K9747
14/06/42 102 GOTU, K9742
22/06/42 101 GTS, K8093
29/06/42 1 GTS, K9755
30/07/42 4 GTS, K8151
16/08/42 4 GTS, K8145

I have the basic info from the K File and most of these don't appear to have any fatalities. Again I'm looking for pilot/observer names/numbers.

Regards,

Alex

[G-ASEA]

I was told by Peter Chamberlin who wrote a book on the history of Haddenham ( RAF Thame) That one of the Hectors there lost a wheel and the pilot abandoned the aircaft. The Hector crashed on the airfield. Also Hectors towed Slingsby Kirby Kite there, this i was told by Jack Caslaw one of the early army glider pilots who flew kite's.

Dave