FAA Casalty 14/08/1944

[dp_burke]

Hello again all,

another FAA loss for query, its to help a gentleman who called me about and RAF man he was friends with. This FAA officer Wadsworth was another friend of his.

Name: WADSWORTH, RICHARD JOWETT
Rank: Sub-Lieutenant (A)
Unit Text: H.M.S. Saker.
Age: 21
Date of Death: 14/08/1944
Cemetery: PORTSMOUTH NAVAL CEMETERY

From Wiki:
HMS Saker was a shore based transit accommodation of the Royal Navy during World War II located just outside of New York. It was used by crews picking up ships allocated to the Royal Navy under the provisions of Lend-Lease and by crews sent to collect ships that had been undergoing long term repair/refitting at U.S. dockyards.
HMS Saker went on to become the the collective title for Royal Navy personnel serving in the United States of America.

I wonder was this an aircraft loss or otherwise? No other FAA men seem to be lost this day. His being buried in Portsmouth suggest he was involved with aircraft or carrier delivery or similar.

Thanks

Dennis

[Amrit1]

1849 Squadron

S/L. Wadsworth was killed in a head-on collision at 8000 feet with a F3A1 aircraft near Clinton, Maine, U.S.A.

http://www.hms-vengeance.co.uk/wadsworthrj.htm

[dp_burke]

Ah!
Broke my own first rule of not googling the man!! Thanks Amrit. And its Portsmouth USA not UK.

The man who contacted me was good friends with him.

Dennis

[Leendert]

Dennis,

Found that two Corsair III aircraft of 1849 Squadron were involved in the head on collision.
Wadsworth's Corsair was JS671.

Pilot of other airplane was SubLt Jack Grogan, who escaped with minor injuries. Serial of his Corsair not known (at least, to me).

Homebase at that time was Lewiston Naval Auxiliary Airfield, Maine , or HMS Baker for RN.

Regards,

Leendert

[dp_burke]

Thanks Leendert,

Only seen your message now. I searched the whole HMS Vengeance site.

Dennis

[Leendert]

Dennis,

Info retrieved from this website: http://www.mewreckchasers.com/List1.html

Regards,

Leendert