AW Whitley V BD233 crashed on 19/081942 near Holy Island, Northumberland, I have the names of two of the crew; Flt Sgt S J Collett Sgt B R Riddett However I believe there was six in the crew and I am trying to establish their names. Any help would be appreciated. Nick
At this time can only find the following........ 19/08/42 No.3 OTU Whitley V BD233 Coded U Casualties: Sgt S J Collett Sgt B E Ridett Training, RAF Cranwell Crashed in sea on navex near Holy Island, Northumberland. Port engine caught fire. Approached Low Newton from the sea. It then turned north towards Beadnell beach, passing low over Links House, crashing just south of Long Nanny burn. As it careered over the dunes and sand it cut a pathway through the rough ground, totally breaking up in the process. Possibly flew too close and struck friendly ships. .................... Via Ross McNeill
Passage from Pastscape - Detailed Result: WHITLEY MK V BD233 Armstrong Whitworth Whitley Mk V night bomber; one of a batch of 157 delivered between February and July 1942] Crashed in sea on navex near Holy Island, Northumberland, 19.8.42. (1) `Friday 19th August 1942, 1546hrs. Whitley Mk V BD233 of 3 OTU RAF Cranwell, Lincolnshire, was carrying out a navigational exercise when it approached Low Newton from the sea. It then turned north towards Beadnell beach, passing low over Links House, crashing just south of the Long Nanny burn...As it careered over the dunes and sand it cut a pathway through the rough grass, totally breaking up in the progress [sic]. `Crew: 1186862 Sgt Stanley John Collett, pilot; 1190114 Sgt Bernard Richard Ridett, 2nd pilot. All 6 crew were killed. `Note: A lady residing locally at the time of the crash recalled the following facts:- "The aircraft had a large section of ship's mast and chain entangled in one undercarriage leg, which was seen to be hanging down before the crash. The pilot had also been wounded in one eye by a bullet." `I [the author] think a possible explanation of the crash could be, the Whitley had been fired on by friendly naval vessels, as it flew too close to them.
Nick did a search on Geoffs for RAFVR (assume they would all be RAFVR on board) apologies if a red herring 7 at Runnymede on 19/8/42 COLLETT, STANLEY JOHN DRAKE, HERBERT ERNEST HUNT, DONALD PETER ALAN POGREL, ARTHUR RIDDETT, BERNARD RICHARD STUBBS, WILLIAM RICHARD JAMES WRIGHT, ROBERT JOHN Bernard Richard Riddett, a Sergeant in the RAFVR, died as the result of an accident on 19th August 1942. He was the son of Mrs Riddett of Windermere, Yarmouth.Memorials and Monuments on the Isle of Wight - Newport - County Secondary School memorial : biographies Others in GB on 19/8/42 Stockport :CROALL, WILLIAM TAIT Southport :HEATON, JOHN ROLAND Berwick :KNAPP, WILLIAM JOHN Eyeworth:MAYNE, HARRY WILLIAM Rutherglen:McQUATTERS, WILLIAM IAN Grantham:OSBORNE, OLIVER HUMPHREY Croydon:PICKARD, KENNETH LEONARD Oldham:QUARMBY, GEOFFREY Mortlake:WILSON, DUDLEY THOMAS
