Operation: Air Test
Date: 20th May 1945 (Sunday)
Unit: No. 20 OTU (Operational Training Unit)
Type: Wellington X
Serial: NC594
Code: A1-W
Base: RAF Lossiemouth, Scotland
Location: Seatown, Scotland
Pilot: F/O. Ronald Arthur Rickard 187301 RAFVR Age 28. Killed
W/Op/Air/Gnr: F/O. David Peacock Robertson Cameron 186773 RAFVR Age 22. Killed
Air/Gnr: Sgt. Cecil George Walter Mawby 1894889 RAFVR Age 20. Killed
Civilian Losses:
Mrs Johan Flood (nee Phimister), aged 37
Master Jack Flood, aged 14
Master James Flood, aged 12
Master Sinclair Flood, aged 7
Master George Flood, aged 5
Master David Flood, aged 3
Mrs Edith Allan, aged 66
Miss Vera Drummond, aged 19
REASON FOR LOSS:
On its previous sortie, this aircraft had made an emergency landing with port engine trouble. After several ground runs, no fault could be found and the aircraft was scheduled for an air test.
The aircraft took off at 09:52 from Lossiemouth and, from eyewitness accounts, was in trouble from the start. For approximately five minutes, the Wellington circled with one of its engines misfiring then, while approaching from the direction of the sea, it dived and came down onto a block of municipal housing in Church Street, Seatown, on the east side of Lossiemouth.
The top floor of the building, which housed three families, took the full impact, killing Mrs Johan Flood and four of her sons immediately. In the same instant, Mrs Edith Allan, a widow, and her adopted daughter died. From the floor below, Mr John Flood and his daughter Jeannie, age 11, were about to prepare breakfast. Dropping his little girl to safety in the garden below, Mr Flood managed to find his youngest son, David, but just as he reached the open window, there was an explosion and the boy was blown from his arms, while he was catapulted out of the building and was barely hurt.From the ground floor, Mrs John Stewart and her three children escaped uninjured.
F/O Ronald Rickard was a screened pilot and a Pilot Instructor at 20 OTU. He had previously served with 40 squadron in the Middle East. On 9-10 March 1943 he crashed while piloting Wellington IC AD651/D. F/O Cameron was also screened aircrew and had been posted to an OTU as experienced aircrew to be involved in OTU training. (note: With thanks to Col Bruggy on the 12 o'clock High Forum for correct number of squadron)
F/O. Ronald Arthur Rickard, Manchester Crematorium, Panel 20. Son of Arthur Percy Rickard and Annie Lillian Rickard of Manchester, husband of Marjorie Iris Rickard of Blackley, Manchester, England.
F/O. David Peacock Robertson Cameron, Edinburgh (Morningside) Cemetery, Sec E, Grave 856. Son of David Cameron and Janet Cameron (nee Hutton of Auchtermuchty) of Edinburgh, Scotland. Husband of Joan Cameron (née Allinson), whom he married only a few days before he died.
Sgt Cecil George Walter Mawby, South Ealing Cemetery, Sec QQ, Row D, Grave 13. Son of Leonard Basil Mawby and Elsie Florence Mawby of Ealing, England.
Researched by: Lynn Herron for Aircrew Remembered. Acknowledgments: RAF Bomber Command Losses (Bill Chorley), C.W.G.C; The Price of Peace (Colin Cummings); www.lossiefowk.co.uk, Scottish War Graves Project. Col Bruggy 12 o'clock high forum.
At the going down of the sun, and in the morning we will remember
them. - Laurence
Binyon
All site material (except as noted elsewhere) is owned or managed
by Aircrew Remembered and should not be used without prior
permission.
© Aircrew Remembered 2012 - 2024
Last Modified: 05 January 2018, 12:34