I'm hoping someone can help with some info. ACW1 Hilda Alway was a Flight Mechanic and killed on 4 Nov 1944 after being struck by a glider wing, she died in Horton Hospital, Banbury. Any idea where she would have been based or any more detail about the incident. Thanks.
I think the unit might have been an airfield controlled by No 23 Training Group,whose HQ were located at South Cerney. The nearest glider unit to Banbury in this Group was at Brize Norton,being the No 21 Heavy Glider Conversion Unit which used the Whitley as a tug for the Horsa. There were other glider units in this group but were remote from Banbury. It appears that AC1 Alway,WAAF, was taken home for burial
No.1 GTS at Croughton Hotspur HH535 Pilot F/O Watchorn on first solo - glider swung on take off. WAAF was on rope laying party and was facing away from takeoff strip. The tug took off slightly off line and glider swung before controls became effective. C of I noted that pilot should have cast off but recognised pilot inexperience. It was also noted that the normal procedure of klaxon warning of take off did not take place due to shortage of airfield controllers and manpower demands of course starting at Watchfield. Ross
1939 REGISTER TRANSCRIPTION 25 Highmead Crescent , Wembley M.B., Middlesex NAME DOB OCCUPATION Hugh Alway 08 Jul 1892 Milk Salesman Annie L Alway 27 Dec 1897 Charwoman (1 entry hidden)
from my collection of photos Aircraftwoman 1st Class ALWAY, HILDA MURIEL Service Number 470272 Died 04/11/1944 Aged 22 Women's Auxiliary Air Force Daughter of Hugh and Annie Louisa Alway, of Wembley. INSCRIPTION HER LIFE A BEAUTIFUL MEMORY HER ABSENCE A SILENT GRIEF. MUM AND DAD