Flt Lt Francis S Banner DFC and Bar

[alex crawford]

Hi,

After duties as a front line fighter pilot with 243 and 145 Sqn's in Tunisia and Sicily Flt Lt Banner joined Vickers-Supermarine as a test pilot.

On 31 August 1945 he was flying a Spitfire when it crashed at High Post. He later died of injuries sustained in the crash.

Would anyone have any further details of the Spitfire he was flying? Also any idea where High Post is?

Thanks,

Alex

[Chris Goss]

High Post is just south of Boscombe Down

[Henk Welting]

Hello Alex,
From "The Price of Peace" (Colin Cummings):
Seafire XVII, serial SW987, Vickers.
On approach to the airfield, the pilot allowed the speed to decay and the aircraft assumed an exaggerated taildown attitude. When the pilot decided to overshoot, he opened the throttle but the aircraft's nose rose, it stalled, crashed and burnt out, causing fatal injuries to the pilot.
Regards,
Henk.