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Operation: Training
Date: 22nd July 1941 (Tuesday)
Unit: No. 16 OTU (Operational Training Unit)
Type: Hampden I
Serial: P5305
Base: RAF Brackley (Hinton-in-the-Hedges)
Location: Field near Hinton-in-the-Hedges airfield.
Pilot: P/O. Michael Wakeman Major 80086 RAFVR Age 28. Killed
Obs: Sgt. Butler RAFVR Survived - injured
W/Op/Air/Gnr: Sgt. D.F. Stephen RAFVR Survived - injured
W/Op/Air/Gnr: Sgt. A.C. Willis RAFVR Survived - injured
REASON FOR LOSS:
On a night navigation exercise. On its return, during landing they undershot the runway and crashed in a field next to the airfield at 02:15 hrs.
The pilot, P/O. Michael Major was killed, the 3 remaining crew injured. Sgt. Butler suffered a broken left arm while the other two had superficial injuries.Hampden notes: Length: 16.32 m, Wingspan: 21.09 m . Power plant: 2 × Bristol Pegasus XVIII 9-cylinder radial engines, 1000 hp (754 kW) at 3,000 feet (910 m) each. Maximum speed: 247 mph (215 knots, 397 km/h) at 4,210 m. Range: 1,720 mi (1,496 nmi, 2,768 km-Max fuel and 910 kg bombs, 206 mph (332 km/h) 1 × fixed forward firing .303 in (7.7 mm) M1919 Browning machine gun in nose, 3–5 Vickers K machine guns: one flexibly mounted in the nose, one or two each in dorsal and ventral positions. Bombs: 1,814 kg bombs or 1 × 18 in (457 mm) torpedo or mines.
P/O. Michael Wakeman Major. Upper Heyford Cemetery. Sec. B. Grave 88. Further information courtesy Sherborne School archives: son of Revd. Henry Dewsbury Alves Major and of Mary Eliza Major, of Merton Vicarage (later of Ripon Hall, Oxford). Attended Sherborne School (School House) 1926-1928. Exeter College, Oxford, BA. Clerk to the High Court of Justice, Southern Rhodesia.
With thanks to Sherborne School Archives for additional information. Roger Roop for grave photographs. 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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Last Modified: 23 March 2015, 15:11