Operation: Formation Flying

Date: 22nd February 1938 (Tuesday)

Unit: No. 1 Squadron (11 Group)

Type: Hawker Fury I

Serial: K2061

Code: Not Known

Base: RAF Tangemere

Location: Near Lewes, Sussex

Pilot: P/O. Merton Vivian Baxter 37957 RAF Age 22 Killed

REASON FOR LOSS:

During a formation flying exercise flying at between 300 - 400 ft one of 3 aircraft he unexpectedly broke away, thought to have had engine trouble and started to lose height. Descending through haze he hit two high tension cables stretched across a valley, some 98 ft above the ground causing him to fly into a hillside at 14:45 hrs - killing the pilot.

Burial details:

P/O. Merton Vivian Baxter. Tangmere Churchyard (Saint Andrew). Born on the 11th January 1916, the son of Isaac William Tyrrell Baxter (Died 1947, age 82) and Florence Baxter (née Harrison - died 11th February 1970) of Temuka, Timaru, New Zealand. Probably also his fiancée, Joan, of Sussex who attended the funeral. Had a total of 364 flying hours logged. Received his commission on the 04th August 1936.

Researched and dedicated to the relatives of this pilot. With many thanks to John at the great Sussex History Forum for newspaper cuttings. The Sussex Forum has some tremendous information and we strongly advise you to visit them and hopefully contribute. The Forum covering many subjects in the area and not simply air losses.

With thanks to the research by Errol Martyn and his publications: “For Your Tomorrow Vols. 1-3”, Auckland War Memorial Museum, Weekly News of New Zealand, other sources as quoted below:

At the going down of the sun, and in the morning we will remember them. - Laurence Binyon
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