No.32 Squadron Mid Air Collision

[Graham Holmes]

We are investigating a mid air collision near Cranbrook, Kent on the 23rd February 1937 involving two aircraft from No.32 Squadron. The pilots, P/O G.Harris and Sgt.W.G.Hooper baled out, unhurt.

It is suggested that one of the aircraft fell on the outskirts of Sissinghurst village, the other in Staplehurst.

Can anyone identify the aircraft involved and the precise location of the crash sites. Also what led to the collision. Many thanks.

Graham Holmes
Lashenden Air Warfare Museum

[niallc]

Hi Graham
Can't help with precise crash locations, but I have these two as Gauntlet IIs K5323 and K7818. Like most squadron ORBs in peacetime, 32 Squadron's is patchy and makes no mention of the incident.

If no-one else comes up with an answer the Form F1180 at the RAF Museum (if held) or local papers are probably your best bet.
HTH
Niall

[paulmcmillan]

Nottingham Evening Post on UK Newspaper archives mentions farm at Sissinghurst as location of crash of one of the aircraft

"R.A.F. PLANES COLLIDE.
PILOTS' JUMP TO SAFETY.
LABOURER'S ESCAPE FROM FALLING WRECKAGE.

Two R.A.F. pilots jumped with their parachutes when their machines collided the air near Cranbrook, Kent, today. They escaped uninjured.
The pilots were: Pilot Officer G. Harris and Pilot Sergeant W. G. Hooper, both No. 32 (Fighter) Squadron, Biggin Hill aerodrome.
It is understood that the planes were on manoeuvres. The pilots landed near Cranbrook, mile and a half from the scene of the collision. A woman farmer
at Sissinghurt said to Post representative: A labourer working in a field had a narrow escape from being struck by parts of the fuselage of one of the planes.
I heard the crash, and going outside, saw the parachutes in the air. The pilots had apparently jumped out immediately the collision occurred. The second machine crashed a field at Staplehurst, which adjoins Sissinghurst. The machines were single seater fighters."


The Times of Feb 24, 1937 says one of the machines fell in a field about a mile from Cranbrook and the
other crashed in a field at Polhurst Farm, Staplehurst

[Graham Holmes]

Thank you both very much for the info. I do hold a copy of the newspaper cutting of the 23rd Feb 1937, believed to be the Evening Post. Further investigations are now under way and I'll report any significant findings.

Graham Holmes