20 OTU

[Icare9]

Found a thread on WW2 Forum: http://www.ww2talk.com/forum/war-air...ssiemouth.html

This aircraft, a Wellington Mark 10 (Trainer) Serial NC594 A1-W of No 20 OTU,Lossiemouth was up at 0952 on an air test and crashed into the top floor of council housing at Seatown, Lossiemouth, killing Mrs J Flood and five of her sons and two members of the Allan family.

It looks as if the crew numbered three (since it was an air test) and all were killed.The Wireless Operator was F/O D.P.R. Cameron who ironically was also screened aircrew,that is, had completed his tour or tours on air operations and had been posted to an OTU as experienced aircrew to be involved in OTU training.

The pilot was F/O R.A Rickard who was also a screened pilot and would be a Pilot Instructor at 20 OTU.The other crew member was Sgt C.G.W Mawby.

The cause of the crash was an engine which became apparent became defective immediately on take off. Witnesses testified to the engine continually misfiring.Presumabily the aircraft was intending to return to base from a track over the sea when it crashed.

Detail from W.R.Chorley.B.C. OTU losses

and unfortunately it appears that it crashed into houses killing 8 local civilians.

On its previous sortie, this aircraft had made an emergency landing with port engine trouble. After several ground runs, no fault could be found and the aircraft was scheduled for an air test. Immediately after take-off and at a height of 300 feet, one or both engines failed or lost power and the aircraft was seen to be pitching fore and aft, out of control.

The pilot attempted an emergency landing but the aircraft crashed into a block of houses at Church Street, Seatown on the eastern outskirts of Lossiemouth village. The civilian casualties were all resident in one house with Mrs Flood and four of her sons being killed in the upper floor immediately the aircraft crashed. Her husband rescued his 11 year old daughter, whom he succeeded in dropping to other rescuers in the garden below. He then carried his youngest son to a window, with the intention of doing the same but an explosion took place and the boy died. Mr Flood was blown from the building but escaped with minor injuries, whilst Mrs Allen and her daughter were also killed as a result of the initial impact.

P/O. Ronald Arthur Rickard. Pilot
P/O. David Peacock Robertson Cameron. Wireless operator.
Sgt. Cecil George Walter Mawby. 20

Mrs. Joey Flood. 37.
Master Jack Flood. 14.
Master James Flood. 12.
Master Sinclair Flood. 7.
Master George Flood. 5.
Master David Flood. 3.
Mrs. Edith Allen. 66.
Miss Vera Allen. 19.

Following details from http://www.unithistories.com/officer...icers_C01.html

Cameron, David Peacock Robertson. Born: 1887 ?? Glasgow, Scotland ?? - 20.05.1945. buried: Edinburgh (Morningside) Cemetery, E.856
F/Sgt.? 1368808, then commissioned, RAFVR (General Duties Branch) emergency commission as P/O (probation) 18.09.1944 with Service No.186773; confirmed as P/O on 18.03.1945 and promoted to F/O (War Substantive) 18.03.1945
20.05.1945: Wireless Operator/Air Gunner, No. 20 Operational Training Unit RAF (Killed on Active Service) when Wellington Mk X NC594 A1-W crashed during an air test into a house shortly after take off from RAF Lossiemouth.