Operation: Training

Date: 5th May 1941 (Monday)

Unit: No. 58 Operational Training Unit

Type: Miles Master I

Serial: T8780

Base: RAF Grangemouth, Scotland

Location: Falkirk, Stirlingshire.

Pilot Inst: Sgt. Jack Townley Dunmore 741448 RAFVR Age 24. Survived/Injured

Pilot U/T: P/O. Victor Charles Arnold J/4253 RCAF Age 20. Killed

REASON FOR LOSS:

During a training flight the aircraft dived into the ground, killing pilot U/T P/O. Arnold instantly. The instructor, Sgt. Dunmore was taken to Larbert Military hospital suffering from serious multiple injures. Sadly he succumbed to these on the 17th May 1941 at 07:15 hrs.

Cockpit of the trainer version of the Miles Master I

Sgt. Dunmore had previously seen service during the Battle of Britain with 222 Squadron and earlier with 266 Squadron. He had been credited with a share in an Me109 on the 15th October 1940.

Jack Dunmore with his bride Gladys Fox

Burial details:

Sgt. Jack Townley Dunmore. Chislehurst Churchyard. Son of Frederick Townley Dunmore and Edith Dunmore; husband of Gladys Muriel Dunmore, of Englefield Green, Egham, Surrey, England.

P/O. Victor Charles Arnold. Grangemouth Cemetery. Sec 1. Grave 13. Son of Harry Watson Arnold, and of Eva Mary Arnold, of Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada.

Further information: His brother, Fl/Lt. Keith Fergus Arnold DFC also died on service just a few weeks later whilst serving with OADF (1) Lockheed Hudson III AE640 crashing on the Mull of Kintyre 25th July 1941. His crew, 24 year old Sgt. Percy Keast from Cornwall and a 24 year old civilian attached from the Civilian Technical Corps Mr. Wilfred Bratherton from British Columbia, Canada were also killed. Full story as researched by Linda Ibrom here.

(1) OADF = Overseas Aircraft Delivery Flight.

Researched for relatives of the crew/s with thanks to the following for additional information Alan Clark a fellow member of the BAAC. 58 OTU, ORBs. Other sources as quoted.

• Battle of Britain Database entry for Jack Dunmore
• Allied Losses Database entry for T8780