Civilian Scientist/Observer Harry Dawson, Air Crashes at Sea: 01/08/1940 - 05/08/1940

Discussion in 'Remembering Today' started by CL1, Aug 1, 2015.

  1. CL1

    CL1 116th LAA and 92nd (Loyals) LAA,Royal Artillery

    Remembering Today

    Casualty Details | CWGC
    DAWSON, HARRY
    Rank: Civilian
    Date of Death: Between 01/08/1940 and 05/08/1940
    Regiment/Service: Civilian War Dead
    Reporting Authority: AIR CRASHES AT SEA
    Additional Information: of 2 Waverley Terrace, Great Horton, Bradford, Yorkshire. Husband of Irene Dawson. in aeroplane crash in sea, off Ryde, Isle of Wight.
     
  2. Owen

    Owen -- --- -.. MOD

    Don't think we've had a Remembering Today like that one before.
    Bit vague , not many details to go on.
     
  3. CL1

    CL1 116th LAA and 92nd (Loyals) LAA,Royal Artillery

    Appears he was a Scientest onboard

    From Ross:RAF Commands


    http://www.testflyingmemorial.com/1940-45.htm

    On the memorials website is listed the loss of Vildebeest K6408
    CREW FATALITIES: Plt Off A. Bailey, TP; AC2 Budd, Photographer

    P/O Alfred Bailey can be found on the CWGC buried in Gosport. The GRO indexs show an Alfred Bailey registered in Gosport district, aged 26, I expect this is him, CWGC show no age for him. The GRO refererence being Vol. 2b pg.1457

    AC2 Budd does not however show up on CWGC or in the death register index.

    The lists of RAF Casualties printed in Flight magazine dated Aug 22nd 1940 includes P/O A Bailey 40976 listed under Killed on Active Service.

    The same lists include an A/C.2 E. S. Budd 977714 but listed under "Wounded or Injured on Active Service".
    http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1940/1940%20-%202372.html?search=budd

    HArry Dawson is listed twice on CWGC
    http://www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_details.aspx?casualty=3168809
    http://www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_details.aspx?casualty=3113170

    There are two entries, both for Harry Dawson, one for August 1st and the other for August 5th. Both entries name the same woman as wife. The Second of the two links above gives the following information:
    of 2 Waverley Terrace, Great Horton, Bradford, Yorkshire. Husband of Irene Dawson. in aeroplane crash in sea, off Ryde.

    The difference in dates perhaps points to his body being recovered some days after the crash.

    The death registers list a Harry Dawson aged 32 in Gosport district, Vol. 2b pg 1458.

    Might it be that there were three men on the aircraft, Bailey, Budd and Dawson, a civilian

    EDIT: Fully cleared up here:
    http://www.gosport.info/History/Anns_Hill_Cemetery_War_Graves_/Anns_Hill_Cemetery_War_Graves_/anns_hill_cemetery_war_graves_2.html



    http://www.rafcommands.com/forum/showthread.php?6024-Air-Crashes-at-Sea-Civilian-War-Dead-CWGC

    http://www.gosport.info/History/Anns_Hill_Cemetery_War_Graves_/Anns_Hill_Cemetery_War_Graves_/anns_hill_cemetery_war_graves_8.html
     
  4. Peter Clare

    Peter Clare Very Senior Member

    The following from 'Battle In The Skies Over The Isle Of Wight' - H J T. Leal......

    August 1 1940

    A Vickers Vildebeest - K6408 of No.22 Squadron , Gosport, crashed off Ryde Pier during a torpedo-dropping exercises. Its pilot, P/O.A. Bailey was killed and his crewman, Aircraftsman 2nd Class, E S, Budd was injured.
     
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  5. KevinBattle

    KevinBattle Senior Member

    No obvious hits on family history, no birth or marriage that ties in as either Henry or Harry Dawson
    The inference is that Harry was the third crew member as a civilian scientist/observer, trapped in the wreckage with Pilot Officer Alfred Bailey shown as from 22 Squadron although the Vildebeest would seem to have been used for performance trials with the Torpedo Development Flight.

    Pilot Officer ALFRED BAILEY, R.A.F. 40976, Pilot Officer, Royal Air Force Age 26 Died 1.8.1940. No 22 Squadron based at RAF Gosport, was engaged in flying a Vickers Vildebeeste aircraft on 1st of August 1940. With him were 977714 Aircraftsman Class 2 E.S Budd and a civilian scientist named Harry Dawson. The aircraft, K6408, part of the Torpedo Development Flight, was scheduled to drop a torpedo on the range off Stokes Bay and then return to the airfield at Gosport less than a mile away. P/O Bailey approached the range, adjusting his altitude for the optimum height of 50 feet above the waves.

    Observers on Ryde Pier noted that the aircraft's nose suddenly dipped, whether as a result of the gusty wind is not known but, with no height to recover, the Vildebeeste crashed into the sea. As with all torpedo drops, the range was policed by various support boats. These boats immediately went to the aid of the sinking aircraft. A/C2 Budd was rescued from the sea and although badly injured, after hospitalisation he recovered. A/C2 Budd was the only member the aircraft's crew to survive.

    The civilian scientist and Pilot Officer Alfred Bailey were dragged to the seabed with the aircraft, and were not recovered until 4 days later. The wreckage of the machine was located by divers, and hauled to the surface. The bodies of the two unfortunate men were at last recovered from the mangled wreckage when the salvage vessel moored up at Priddys Hard.P/O Alfred Bailey, R.A.F., was buried on the 7th of August 1940 at Ann's Hill Cemetery, and is laid to rest in the War Graves Section.

    There are images of K6408, one of only 18 Mk IV's, looking resplendent with streamlined spats.
     
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  6. amberdog45

    amberdog45 Senior Member

    Kevin, have you tried Harold as a first name? I've also known a Herman use the name Harry.
     
  7. Tricky Dicky

    Tricky Dicky Don'tre member

    Harry Dawson in the UK, WWII Civilian Deaths, 1939–1945

    Name: Harry Dawson
    Death Date: 5 Aug 1940
    Death Place: Ryde, Hampshire, England
    Spouse: Irene Dawson

    41234_1831109387_0489-00114.jpg

    In fact he has 2 entries under the same heading - but different dates:


    Name: Harry Dawson
    Death Date: 1 Aug 1940
    Spouse: Irene Dawson

    41234_1831109387_0496-00087.jpg

    Harry Dawson in the England & Wales, Death Index, 1916-2007


    Name: Harry Dawson
    Birth Date: abt 1908
    Date of Registration: Sep 1940
    Age at Death: 32
    Registration district: Gosport
    Inferred County: Hampshire
    Volume: 2b
    Page: 1458


    TD
     
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  8. Tricky Dicky

    Tricky Dicky Don'tre member

    The only info on marriage for a Harry Dawson (b 1908 as above) to a spouse (first name Irene) is :

    Name: Harry Dawson
    Birth Date: abt 1908
    Event Type: Marriage
    Father: Allert Dawson
    Marriage Date: 26 Dec 1931
    Marriage Age: 23
    Spouse: Irene Blakey
    Spouse Marriage Age: 21
    Archive Location: Wakefield
    Parish or Chapel: Victoria Wesleyan Mission Hall, Corner of Cliffe and Bolton Roads
    Spouse Father: John Whalley Blakey
    Reel Number: Bradford, Stephen Road (Later Bethel Methodist); WC 5
    Reference Number: CIII/77

    32356_259770-00135.jpg
    His occupation on that is a 'Photographic Manager' aged 23 - not sure if that helps or hinders

    TD
     
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  9. ritsonvaljos

    ritsonvaljos Senior Member

    'Air Crashes at Sea' is the C.W.G.C. category in which the actor Leslie Howard is commemorated (died 1 June 1943). Presumably most of them were shot down by enemy aircraft and the others in crashes where Armed Forces personnel were also killed?
     
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  10. Peter Clare

    Peter Clare Very Senior Member

    Vickers Vildebeest IV K6408 lost off Ryde Isle of Wight 1 August 1940

    [​IMG]
     
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  11. Firewaterrunoff

    Firewaterrunoff New Member

    Hi Alfred Bailey was my Great Uncle. Interested in any further research you guys have found.
     
  12. CL1

    CL1 116th LAA and 92nd (Loyals) LAA,Royal Artillery

    Welcome to the forum
    Quite a lot of info already within the thread
    Quite an old thread so hopefully
    members might be able to add more

    You can you add more detail photos etc if you so wish
     
  13. Firewaterrunoff

    Firewaterrunoff New Member

    [​IMG]
    Found this image of the aircraft
     
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