Operation: Training exercise

Date: 22nd August 1943 (Sunday)

Unit: 61 Operational Training Unit (OTU)

Type: Spitfire IIa

Serial: P7304

Base: RAF Rednal, Shropshire

Location: Hincks Plantation, Nr. Lilleshall, Shropshire

Pilot: Plt Off. Jean Joseph Albert Noizet 143485 RAFVR Age 28. Killed

REASON FOR LOSS:

During a fighter attack exercise two Spitfires from 61 OTU, Spitfire P7444 flown by Plt Off. Henry Maurice Goldsmit (a Belgium pilot) and the Spitfire flown by Plt Off. Noizet collided in mid-air. Plt Off. Goldsmit was uninjured and managed to land his Spitfire. His aircraft was only damaged slightly.

Note: The location of Plt Off. Henry Maurice Goldsmit's landing has been variously reported as being RAF Rednal or RAF High Ercall. However research undertake by Michael Davies has concluded that the airfield was RAF Halpenny Green.

Plt Off. Jean Noizet was killed when his Spitfire crashed into the Hincks Plantation, Nr. Lilleshall, 3 miles South West of Newport. The Air Accident investigation placed the cause as 'pilot error due to misjudgement'.

Plt Off Henry Maurice Goldsmit 151928 RAFVR, was later KiA. On the 3rd November 1944 he was attacking transport and troops in Holland, flying Spitfire XI PT963 with 349 Squadron, when he was hit by flak and crashed at Klundert.

We received an email in August 2013 regarding this loss, a Mr. Hugh Richardson contacted us and advised that a small memorial was erected for P/O. Noizet at the edge of the Rednal Airfield. He maintains this and every Remembrance Day he places a memorial cross on the plaque - one pilot, never forgotten.

Notes: P7304 Spitfire was built at the Castle Bromwich Works and fitted with the Merlin XII Engine. The Wartime Aircraft Recovery Group based at Sleap Airfield recovered some pieces in 1977, including the Merlin XII engine and they have them on show at their museum, as well as many other interesting exhibits

Above left - Merlin engine recovered in 1977 and right other pieces from the cockpit

Burial Details:

Plt Off.Jean Joseph Albert Noizet. Brussels Town Cemetery. Belgiams Field of Honour. Born on the 5th March 1915 in Florenville, Belgium. NoK details not known.

Also:

Plt Off. Henry Maurice Goldsmit. Brussels Town Cemetery. Belgiams Field of Honour. NoK details not known

Researched for relatives of the pilot. With thanks to the following for further information supplied, Hugh Richardson, Wartime Aircraft Recovery Group, Commonwealth War Graves Commission. Rathbone Museum. Thanks to Michael Davies for the correction to the airfield location (Aug 2021).