ining

Date: 11 September 1941 (Thursday)

Unit: No. 53 Operational Training Unit (OTU)

Type: Supermarine Spitfire Ia

Serial: K.9976

Code: —-

Base: RAF Llandow, Glamorgan, Wales

Location: Ty-draw (Newydd) Farm, New Barn, near Pickeston, Flemingstone, Vale of Glamorgan, Wales

Crew

Pilot: Sgt. Richard Edward McMurray, R/67226, RCAF, Age 22 — Killed

Reason for Loss

On the evening of 11 September 1941, Sergeant McMurray took off from No. 53 O.T.U., Llandow, to carry out a solo training exercise (Exercise 6) in Spitfire K.9976. Before take-off, the aircraft's oxygen system was checked and confirmed on and full, and McMurray was confirmed conversant with the regulator and equipment. He had previously completed 3 hours 50 minutes dual instruction on the Master before going solo on Spitfires, and was assessed as a competent pupil of average ability.

At 18:44 hours, ground radio operators received a message from McMurray's aircraft, callsign “Simon 90”: “Something's happened to my motor.” Operators immediately requested further details, repeating the request at 18:45, 18:46, 18:47 and 18:49 hours, but received no further reply.

Witnesses on the ground — fire section personnel at St. Athan and the Chief Flying Instructor (C.F.I.) of No. 53 O.T.U., who was travelling nearby by road — observed the aircraft at approximately 800 feet, emitting white smoke from the exhaust and losing speed and height rapidly, with the engine running in irregular bursts. The aircraft banked steeply to the right and entered a spin in that direction, completing about three turns before ceasing to spin at roughly 200–400 feet. Accounts differ slightly on the final seconds: two witnesses, LAC Charlton and AC2 Farr, both of No. 1 Fire Section, RAF St. Athan, stated the aircraft continued in a steep dive without recovering; the C.F.I., observing from the Cowbridge–Cardiff road, stated the aircraft briefly recovered from the spin at about 100 feet before diving vertically into the ground and bursting into flames.

The crash occurred in fields between the base and St. Athan aerodrome. The first responding officer reached the scene about 10 minutes after the crash; by then the wreckage was smouldering, having already been dealt with by the St. Athan fire party. From witnesses working in nearby fields, he formed the opinion that McMurray had entered a spin while heading toward St. Athan aerodrome, and that the aircraft struck the ground at a very steep angle. He was obliged to leave after approximately 15 minutes to attend a second, separate crash.

The Engineer Officer in charge of the Servicing Squadron at No. 53 O.T.U. was informed on the morning of 12 September 1941 that the pilot had reported “Something happened to my engine” shortly before the accident. He attended the crash site on 13 September 1941, when the Salvage Unit recovered the engine. Inspection showed that the No. 5 big-end bearing had failed, forcing the connecting rod through the crankcase.

The primary cause of the big-end bearing failure could not be established. There was plentiful oil evident at the site — the oil tank had burst on impact — and a small amount remained within parts of the engine.

The Court of Inquiry evidence indicates that Spitfire K.9976 suffered a catastrophic engine failure in flight, consistent with Sgt. McMurray's radioed report of engine trouble. The resulting loss of power and control led to a spin from which the aircraft did not recover, and it struck the ground at a steep angle before catching fire. The root cause of the bearing failure itself was not determined by the inspecting engineer officer.

TIMELINE

Witness Statements

First Officer on Scene (unidentified): On duty on 11 September 1941; informed at about 18:40 hours of an aircraft crash between the base and St. Athan. Arrived at the scene approximately 10 minutes later; wreckage already smouldering, having been dealt with by the St. Athan fire party. Formed the opinion, from witnesses working in nearby fields, that the deceased spun into the ground while heading toward St. Athan aerodrome. Could not ascertain whether the pilot recovered from the spin, but the wreckage indicated the aircraft struck the ground at a very steep angle. Left after about 15 minutes to attend another crash.

1176532 L.A.C. Charlton: On duty with No. 1 Fire Section, RAF St. Athan, on 11 September 1941 at 18:40 hours. Observed Spitfire K.9976 at about 800 feet emitting white smoke from the exhaust and losing speed rapidly. The aircraft banked steeply to the right, then entered a spin to the right, completing about three turns. At approximately 200 feet it stopped spinning but continued to dive steeply until it hit the ground.

1298689 A.C.2. Farr: On duty with No. 1 Fire Section, RAF St. Athan, on 11 September 1941 at approximately 18:40 hours. Observed Spitfire K.9976 at about 800 feet losing speed and height rapidly, with the engine running in short bursts and white smoke emitted from the exhaust after each burst. The aircraft turned to the right, banking steeply, and entered a spin in that direction with the engine still running irregularly. It completed three turns and stopped spinning at about 200 feet, but in a vertical position, from which the pilot did not recover, diving steeply into the ground.

Chief Flying Instructor, No. 53 O.T.U., Llandow: Previously Flight Commander of “D” Flight; states that Sergeant McMurray was a competent pupil pilot who had progressed satisfactorily with his training. On the evening of the accident, while travelling along the Cowbridge–Cardiff road toward Cardiff, and about due north of St. Athan aerodrome, he noticed a Spitfire in a violent spin at about 300–400 feet. At about 100 feet the aircraft recovered from the spin and dived vertically into the ground, bursting into flames.

Flight Commander, “D” Flight, No. 53 O.T.U.: During his temporary absence on 11 September 1941, Sergeant McMurray was authorised to carry out Exercise 6 in Spitfire K.9976 by Flying Officer Mann, an instructor in “D” Flight competent to authorise the flight. On returning just before McMurray took off, he asked Sergeant Edwards, also an instructor in “D” Flight, to confirm the oxygen was turned on and the bottle full, and that the pilot was fully conversant with the oxygen regulator and equipment; Edwards reported all was in order. McMurray had received 3 hours 50 minutes dual on the Master before going solo on Spitfires and was assessed a competent pupil of average ability.

R/T Operator (unidentified): On duty in the R/T Operators' Room with A.C.2 Lever on 11 September 1941 at 18:44 hours. Received the message “Something's happened to my motor” from “Simon 90.” Replied immediately requesting further particulars, and repeated the request, but received no reply. Further attempts to contact “Simon 90” were made at 18:46, 18:47 and 18:49 hours, all without result.

Burial Details

Sgt. Richard Edward McMurray is buried in Llantwit Major Cemetery, Section C, Grave 13. He was born on 17 July 1919 in Belleville, Ontario, Canada, the son of William Arthur McMurray (died 1959, aged 79) and Esther Velma McMurray, née Smith (died 1958, aged 61), of Gilmour, Hastings County, Ontario, Canada.

Epitaph: ‘Father In Thy Gracious Keeping Leave We Now Thy Servant Sleeping’

Notes

Llantwit Major Cemetery

The War Graves Plot is enclosed on two sides by the stone wall marking the cemetery boundary. The Cross of Sacrifice stands on the western side of the plot, near the entrance.

Early in the 1939–45 War, a piece of ground was set aside by the local authorities in Section C, in the south-eastern corner of the cemetery, for service war burials, which became the War Graves Plot.

Most of the airmen buried here came from the large RAF station at St. Athan, near Barry, and some from RAF Llandow, near Cowbridge. Many of them were killed in flying accidents while training.

Sources and Acknowledgements

• National Archives of Canada
• Royal Air Force Museum
• Commonwealth War Graves Commission
• Aircrew Remembered Archives
• Paradie RCAF Archives
• Aviation Safety Network
• Wikipedia