Operation: Training Flight

Date: 10th December 1942

Unit: 20 O.T.U. (B Flight)

Type: Wellington IC

Serial: L7867

Code: JM-J

Location: Geal-Charn, Ben Alder, Scotland

Pilot: F/O. James William Heck AUS/409114 R.A.A.F. Age 25. Killed

Nav: Sgt. William Ernest Riley R.A.F. Age 22. Killed

Nav(2): Sgt. Joseph Towers 1126835 R.A.F.V.R. Age 25. Killed

W/Op/Air/Gnr: Sgt. James Hemmings 1126835 R.A.F.V.R. Age ?  Killed

Air/Bmr: Sgt. Maurice Hutt 1332295 R.A.F.V.R. Age 21. Killed 

Air/Gnr: Sgt. P.E.Underwood R.A.F.V.R. Injured

Reason For Loss:

Wellington L7869 JM-J from 20 Operational Training Unit (O.T.U.) R.A.F. Lossiemouth was on a training flight carrying 8 practice bombs, 2 smoke floats and 2 sea markers when it ran into blizzard conditions and crashed at 15.00 hrs. at Geal-Charn, Ben Alder, to the east of Corrour. 

The only survivor of the crew of six was the air gunner Sgt. Underwood, who first checked if his crew had survived, but sadly they perished in the crash. At the time blizzard conditions prevailed on the mountainside and although being seriously injured he made his way eight miles to Corrour Lodge to seek assistance. 

He was taken in and the following day was taken to Fort William Hospital where he was treated for his injuries. The bodies of his crew members were all removed off the mountainside. The 56 Maintenance Unit from Inverness was despatched to the crash site assisted by soldiers from 52nd Division Scottish Command from Oban, but it was decided to leave the clearance of the wreckage until the following summer. The clearance actually took place in July 1943

Further information can be found on the Peak District Air Accident Research website.

F/O. James William Heck. Lossiemouth Cemetery, Morayshire, Scotland. Grave 974. Son of Oswald Clarence and Maggie Davidson Heck, of Ivanhoe, Victoria, Australia.

Sgt. James Hemmings. Preston, New Hall Lane, Cemetery, Lancashire. Sec. F.F. C.of E. Grave 44. N.o.K details currently not available – are you able to assist completion of these and any other information?

Sgt. Maurice Hutt. Soham Cemetery, Cambridgeshire. Section 1.Grave 208. Son of Frederick Robert and Ellen Hutt of Soham, Cambridgeshire, England.

Sgt. William Ernest Riley. Lossiemouth Cemetery, Morayshire, Scotland. Grave 973. Son of Major. William Edward Riley and Winefride Riley, of Liverpool, England.

Sgt. Joseph Towers. Liverpool Anfield Cemetery. Section 21.C.of E.Grave 1714. Son of Joseph John and Elizabeth Towers, of Dovecot, Liverpool, England. Personal Details: James william Heck born on the 11th March 1917 at Fairfield, Victoria, Australia. Enlisted into the Royal Australian Airforce at No 1 recruiting Centre Melbourne on the 19th July 1941. Gave his father Oswald Clarence Heck as his next of kin. Religion: Presbytarian. Embarked from Australia to Canada on the 11th May 1942 on route for the UK.

Researched by Aircrew Remembered, volunteer, Mr. Bob Wilton for relatives of this crew. With thanks to the following: Australian National Archives, Bill Chorley – “Bomber Command Losses”, the C.W.G.C. John Lucas for wreckage photograph.

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