Hudson loss

[alex crawford]

Hi,

I have another couple of queries regarding Hudsons.

4/10/39 A 224 Sqn Hudson crashed and four of the crew are buried at Leuchars. Crew are:

Plt Off R A Barker
Plt Off J W C McFarlane
Sgt H Letchford
AC C A Bates

10/10/39 A 233 Sqn Hudson crashed and two crew members are buried at Leuchars. Crew are:

Plt Off W E Lockey
Fly Off C H Clark

Can someone tie up these crews with a serial number/code and reason for loss?

Thanks,

Alex

[Alex Smart]

Hello Alex,

From Coastal Command Losses v1
4th October 1939.
224 Sqdn Hudson I N7214 "QX-T"
Delivered as a relief a/c to the detached flight and returned with relieved crew and kit. Dived into the ground from 300 ft, half a mile N of Leuchars, Fife after a presumed loss of control due to unbalanced load. Sgt Letchford, P/O. McFarlane P/O. Barker and AC1 Bates rest locally in Leuchars Cemetery . P/O Perry is buried in Lonparish Cemetery Hampshire and AC1 May in St. Johns Westgate Cemetery Newcastle-upon-Tyne.
F/O. D.G.Perry 37899
P/O J W C McFarlane 39638
Sgt. H. Letchford 580247
P/O. R A Barker 40199
AC1 F H May 521784
AC1 C A Bates 511737

10th October 1939
233 Sqdn Hudson I N7227 "ZS-Y"
The Hudson was flying very low as the visibility was poorwith a low cloud base and it struck high ground at 19.40hrs, 1 and a 1/2 miles S of Freuchie, Fife when returning from patrol. Fire broke out immediately and the wreckage was distributed over a large area. The crew of four were killed instantly. F/O Clark, a New Zealander from Wellington City and P/O. Lockley are buried in Leuchars Cemetery while AC1 Blades was taken to St.Mary Churchyard Wath, Yorkshire and AC2 Cochrane rests in Ryden Mains Cemetery New Monkland Lanarkshire.
F/O. C.H. Clark 39272
P/O. W.E.Lockley 41436
AC1 B N Blades 550711
AC2 W M Cochrane 620399

Alex

[alex crawford]

Hi Alex,

Thanks for filling in the gaps.

Alex