Operation: Ferry Flight

Date: 28th April 1942

Unit: No.2 School of Air Navigation

Type: Husdson IV

Serial: AE618

Base: RAF Cranage, Byley, Cheshire

Location: Cranage, Cheshire

Pilot: F/O. George Cornelius Buxton 66531 RAFVR Age 21. Killed

Pilot PX: F/O. John William Lloyd Botting 61275 RAFVR Age ? Killed

Pilot PX: F/O. George Edward Carrington Seale 61271 RAFVR Age 32. Killed

Pilot PX: W/O. Leonard Charles Salter 562313 RAF Age 31. Killed

Pilot PX: Fl/Sgt. Brian Walter Bowman 580147 RAF Age 25. Killed

Pilot PX: W/O. Harold Robinson 517074 RAF Age 27. Killed

W/Op/Air/Gnr: Fl/Sgt. David John Williams 646456 RAF Age 21. Killed

W/Op/Air/Gnr: Fl/Sgt. Charles Ernest Forrest 629866 RAF Age ? Killed

Air/Gnr: Cpl. Reginald Bernard Snashall 545074 RAF Age 22. Killed

REASON FOR LOSS:

The flight was returning from RAF West Freugh in Scotland carrying some of the crews from 20 aircraft that it had delivered there earlier in the day.

During approach with insufficient speed and making a final turn at about 300 ft the aircraft spun into the ground - all the vrew and passengers were tragically killed.

Burial details:

F/O. George Cornelius Buxton. Byley Churchyard (St. John) Sec. E. Grave 13. Son of George Henry and Ellen Mary Buxton, of Scaynes Hill, Sussex, England.

F/O. John William Lloyd Botting. Byley Churchyard (St. John) Sec. C. Grave 13. No further information, are you able to assist?

F/O. George Edward Carrington Seale. Byley Churchyard (St. John) Sec. D. Grave 13.  Further information courtesy Sherborne School Archives: Details: George Edward Carrington Seale (1910-1944), born 10 April 1910, son of Dr E.A. Seale, Fitzroy Street, Grahamstown, South Africa. Attended St Andrew's College, Grahamstown, South Africa. Attended Sherborne School (Abbey House) May 1925-July 1929; 6th form; shooting viii, 1927, 1928, 1929. New College, Oxford. Solicitor.

W/O. Leonard Charles Salter. Byley Churchyard (St. John) Sec. F. Grave 13. Son of Leonard and Louisa Ellen Salter, husband of Patricia Martha Jane Salter, of Middlewich, Cheshire, England.

Fl/Sgt. Brian Walter Bowman. Byley Churchyard (St. John) Sec. H. Grave 13. Son of George Samuel and Martha Bowman, of Tranby Croft, Yorkshire, England.

W/O. Harold Robinson. Whitehaven Cemetery (Hensingham) Sec F. Grave 52. Son of Thomas and Mary Elizabeth Robinson, husband of Alexandra Robinson, of Hensingham, Whitehaven, Cumbria, England..

Fl/Sgt. David John Williams. Byley Churchyard (St. John) Sec. E. Grave 13. Son of Evan John and Margaretta Jane Williams, of Porth Glamorgan, Wales.

Fl/Sgt. Charles Ernest Forrest. Byley Churchyard (St. John) Sec. G. Grave 13. No further information, are you able to assist?

Cpl. Reginald Bernard Snashall. Byley Churchyard (St. John) Sec. J. Grave 13. Son of Bernard and Jessie Snashall, of Maidstone, Kent, England.

With thanks to Sherborne School Archives for additional information. Also to Craig Singleton who covers this accident in greater detail on his RAF Cranage website. Also to Ralph McLean of the South Africa War Graves project for their support and grave photo. Other sources as shown below.

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