Hello All My Great Uncle Thomas "Tommy" Westlake was in the RAF in WW2. He was killed in 1944. On his service record it says "Accident to aircraft". He was in 290 Squadron, which was I think at Newtownards on anti aircraft duties at that time. Would there be a report on the accident? and if so would anyone know where I could get hold of a copy? When I searched the internet one source says that the squadron was to provide target towing to train anti aircraft units, which certainly makes me think of a friendly fire incident. Any information would be much appreciated. Sue
The CWGC details: Squadron Leader THOMAS GEORGE (TOMMY) WESTLAKE 89387, 290 Sqdn., Royal Air Force who died age 27 on 15 April 1944 Son of Mr. and Mrs. Richard Hill Westlake, and stepson of Winifred Westlake, of Westbury Park, Bristol. Remembered with honour BRISTOL (GREENBANK) CEMETERY
Not a lot to add - from flight global archives: DIED OF WOUNDS OR INJURIES RECEIVED ON ACTIVE SERVICE.— Flt. Lt. J. A. Hawkins; Act. Sqn. Ldr. T. G. Westlake. Hawkins is probably 120119 died 14/04/1944 sgt | active service | fit | 1944 | 1504 | Flight Archive
And according to this site - Contact usAbout Us Only one other RAF flying unit was based at Long Kesh in 1944, No 290 Squadron which arrived in March. Its role was to facilitate the training of anti-aircraft gunners and there were heavy demands for its services from the RAF Regiment, Army, Royal Navy and the USAAF gunnery school near Kilkeel, especially in the run-up to D-Day. As It Was 3 In March 1944, No.290 Squadron, RAF, arrived at Long Kesh from Newtownards equipped with Martinets, Oxfords and Hurricanes. Its commitment was to provide all the anti-aircraft co-operation training for the whole of Northern Ireland for the navy, army, RAF regiment and gunnery school at Greencastle airfield near Kilkeel operated by the United States Army Air Force. This kept the aircraft extremely busy although the work-load eased considerably after the Normandy invasion, and in August 1944 the Squadron was transferred to Turnhouse near Edinburgh
Sue If you contact the RAF Museum at Hendon archivists via their website they might be able to send you an accident report form... It does take some time as they have lots of queries to answer... Is anyone in your family of your great uncles age still alive as they can request as next of kin his service record. Again it takes some time because the section that deals with it at Cranwell is overwhelmed (though not as long as Army ones are taking). The following page will give you more information: Ministry of Defence | About Defence | What we do | Personnel | Service Records | Making a Request for Information held on the Personnel Records of Deceased Service Personnel Good luck Dee
Hello Sue. I managed to find out a little about what happened to your Great Uncle. Thanks goes to the guys at Commands and Dennis Burke. It appears he may have been on Oxford BG601 that crashed into sea 2 miles E of Copeland, Co.Down, also killing F/O (Pilot) Gordon E. VANCE - RCAF J/24133. (Pilot) Gordon E. VANCE - son of Samuel & Beatrice Emily Vance of Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada; a flying officer/pilot with Royal Canadian Air Force #J/24133,290 (R.A.F.); died 15 Apr 1944 aged 22; buried Eglantine church of Ireland, Lisburn. The Canadian national Archvies would have an extract of the pilot :- VANCE'S service file. It might contain details of the crash and confirm what happened. Search Help - Second World War Service Files: Canadian Armed Forces War Dead - Library and Archives Canada
Thanks to all your help I wrote to the Air Historical Branch at Ruislip. They have given me the following information. "On 15th April 1944 A/Sqn Ldr Westlake of 290 Squadron was the pilot of Oxford BG601 and was leading a formation of 3 Oxford aircraft, widely spaced, in simulated torpedo attacks on ships of an escort group in connection with a naval exercise. The Oxfords were escorted by 5 Martinet aircraft forming a fighter cover about 500 feet above the Oxfords. At approximately 10.15 hours A/Sqn Ldr Westlake called up the other aircraft and instructed them to return to Ballyhalbert. The Oxfords closed formation with A/Sqn Ldr Westlake's aircraft leading. The other2 aircraft were about 2 wingspans range awayfrom and slightly above and behind the lead aircraft. The lead aircraft was flying at less than 50 feet above the sea and at a point close to Copeland Islands (which lie to the north of Donaghdee Co Down, off the coast of Northern Island) the aircraft was seen to fly even closer to the sea. At 10.30 hours the propeller of A/Sqn Ldr Westlake's aircraft was seen to touch the sea and the aircraft hit the water at about 160mph and broke up on impact. RAF High Speed rescue launches were dispatched from Donaghdee and they picked up A/Sqn Ldr Westlake who sadly succumbed to his injuries." Apparently there may be further information in the Operations Record Book of 290 squadron held at National Archives at Kew. I'm hoping to get to Kew later in the year and will let you know what I find. Sue
Well done Sue. Good to see you got the information you were looking for. The 290 squadron ORBS will be on microfilm at Kew. You can print the relevant section onto A4 or A3 paper. Might be a good idea to bring along a digital camera and take photos of the material as well for back up. Best regards skyhawk.
