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.

[Peter Clare]

Alex,

Cummings in his book 'Though Without Anger' does not, in most cases give a crew list but he does list casualties.

18 May 1941
Hector K9751
GTS
Place. Thame

The aircrafts engine cut on take-off and it swung before tipping on its nose. The pilot was alleged to have been careless but there is no evidence as to how he was so implicated.

22 May 1941
Hector K9775
CLE (GTS)
Place. Thame

The aircraft was engaged in a sortie to Hatfield and return. On landing at the conclusion of the sortie the brakes were uneven and it caused a violent swing, leading to the aircraft running into soft ground and tipping on its nose. The pilot of this aircraft was Malcolm Strathdee, who was destined to pilot a Horsa on the first operation with gliders; Operation Freshman in late 1942.


28 May 1941
Hector K9782
GTS
Place. Haddenham

The aircraft was landing but the pilot bounced the aircraft in a heavy touchdown. however, the aircrafts wheels went into a furrow in the surface of a rough landing area and the strain proved too much for the undercarriage, which collapsed.


3 July 1941
Hector K8119
GTS
Place. Sydenham

The pilot made a bad landing and damaged the undercarriage. The aircraft was climbed away and then successfully abandoned by its crew.


6 July 1941
Hector K9723
GTS
Place Sydenham

During take-off the aircrafts undercarriage suffered damage and the pilot elected to abandon the aircraft rather than attempt a forced landing.

I'll post the others during the day.

Regards
Peter

[Peter Clare]

22 September 1941
Hector K9762
GTS
Place. Thame

On take-off the Oleo leg tube failed and this caused one of the undercarriage legs to hang loose. A crash landing was made but with an obsolete aircraft type it was not repaired.