Operation: Training
Date: 27th October 1941 (Monday)
Unit: No. 755 Squadron / No. 15 Flying Training School
Type: Proctor Ia / Oxford I
Serial: P6064 / N6293
Code: Not known
Base: RAF Kiddington, HMS Kestrel / RAF Upper Heyford
Location: 1 Mile West Upper Heyford, Oxfordshire
Proctor Ia P6064 Crew:
Pilot: Dudley Mackenzie Jones Midshipman (A) Temp Acting Sub-Lieutenant Age 20. Killed
Alfred George Davis Naval Airman 2nd Class SFX2207 Age 20. Killed
Oxford I N6293 Crew:
Pilot Inst: Fl/Lt. William Laurie Lang 72296 RAFVR Age 30. Killed
Pilot U/T: Lt. Gregory Rupert Sims 105498 Kings Own Royal Regiment (pending transfer to RAF) Age 21. Killed
Page researched by Angus Lang - relative of Dudley Jones (photo left courtesy Angus). Very little information is available on this mid-air accident which it appears to have occurred during foggy conditions.
At approximately 16:00 hrs, 1 mile west of RAF Upper Heyford, the Oxford was in mid-air collision with Percival Proctor P6064 of the Royal Navy, being flown by Midshipman D.M Jones and Naval Airman 2nd Class A.G Davis. The starboard wing of the Oxford was ripped off. Both aircraft were lost and all four occupants were killed.
The related RAF Form 765 report states that engines & aircraft were totally wrecked, cause of collision not known. There is no evidence of a Court of Inquiry being held.
Burial details:
Dudley Mackenzie Jones. Winchester Cemetery (Magdalen Hill) . Row G.1. Grave 108. Son of Mr. and Mrs. F.H. Jones, of Shirley, Croydon, Surrey, England. Grave inscription reads: “So Dear And Still So Near To Us”.
Alfred George Davis. Chingford Mount Cemetery, Screen Wall. Sec. F.13. Collective grave 38839. Son of Mr. and Mrs. T.A. Davis, of South Chingford, London, England.
Fl/Lt. William Laurie Lang. Grendon Underwood Churchyard (St. Leonard). Son of John and Winifred Lang and husband of Frances Lang, of Grendon Underwood. B.A. Hons. (Oxon). Buckinghamshire, England. Grave inscription reads: “A Talented Athlete A Loving Husband And Father A Brave And Free Spirit”.
Lt. Gregory Rupert Sims. Acton Cemetery. Section G, Row D, Grave 82. Son of Rupert Frank Knight Sims, Mabel Martha Sims, of Bedford Park, London, England.
Researched by Angus Lang for Aircrew Remembered. Also thanks to Air Historical Branch and Naval Historical Branch for further details. Page dedicated to the relatives of this crew with thanks to sources indicated below:
