Operation: Training

Date: 08th November 1939 (Wednesday)

Unit: No. 220 Squadron (Καθορωμεν Αιστοι - 'We Observe Unseen') 18 Group. Coastal Command

Type: Hudson I

Serial: N7290

Code: NR-?

Base: RAF Thornaby, Yorkshire

Location: Linthorpe

Pilot: P/O Augustine Harold Jervis Ryan RAF 41324 Age 21. Killed

Pilot: P/O. Douglas Haig Robertson 41469 RAF Age 21. Killed

Pilot: Sgt. Rex Mitchell RAF 580183 Age 24. Killed

W/Op/Air/Gnr: AC1 Albert Wade RAF 534389 Age 26. Killed

REASON FOR LOSS:

Weather: 5/10 cloud at 4,000 ft. Haze. Poor visibility 2 miles.

This aircraft was built by Lockheed at Burbank, California and after arrival in the UK and MU acceptance was delivered to 220 Squadron in September 1939.

On a training flight to gain crew experience using oxygen they descended from 20,000 ft. On approach to land at RAF Thornaby flying at 600 ft the aircraft stalled. At 16:55 hrs with no time to recover the Hudson crashed into a house in Cambridge Road in Linthorpe.

All four of the crew were killed but amazingly no one killed on the ground. The following blaze was contained by the fire service, several of whom were recommended for commendations for their actions following this accident in attempting to rescue the crew.

Burial details:

P/O Augustine Harold Jervis Ryan. Stoke-on-Trent Cemetery (Hartshill). Born on the 07th March 1918 in Richmond, Nelson. Educated at New Plymouth Technical College. Member of New Plymouth Aero Club. 'A; licence awarded on the 11th March 1938. Selected for a short Service Commission on the 23rd May 1938 and embarked for England on the 06th July 1938. Trained at No. 12 Elementary Reserve Flying Training School on 29th August 1938. No 10 Flying Training School on the 12th November 1938. Pilot badge awarded on the 07th June 1939. Joined 220 squadron on the 24th June 1939. Son of Tierney Jervis Ryan (died 13th January 1955, age 80) and Ethel Daisy Ryan (née Alcock - died 1942, age 59), of 48 Mackworth street, Woolston, Christchurch, Canterbury, New Zealand. His brother, 21 year old P/O. Lenard Terence Jervis Ryan 41744 RAF lost his life on the 26th November 1940. Further details herehere. Epitaph: 'To Live In Hearts We Leave Behind Is Not To Die'.

P/O. Douglas Haig Robertson. Thornaby Cemeter. Plot G. Row I. Grave 40. Born on the 21st November 1917 in Westport, Educated at Nelson College and Westport Technical High School. Selected for a short Service Commission on the 27th July 1938 and embarked for England on the 25th August 1938. Trained at No. 9 Elementary Reserve Flying Training School on 06th October 1938. No 6 Flying Training School on the 02nd January 1939. Pilot badge awarded on the 05th August 1939 joining 220 squadron. Son of John McLean Robertson (died 28th June 1954, age 73) and Margaret Constance Robertson (née Kirby - died in 1972, age 90) of Upper Palmerston Street, Westport, Nelson, New Zealand. Epitaph: 'At The Going Down Of The Sun And In The Morning We Will Remember Him'.

Sgt. Rex Mitchell. Byker and Heaton Cemetery. Sec. 26. Grave 370. Son of Charles and Margaret Mitchell of Newcastle-on-Tyne, Northumberland, England

AC1 Albert Wade. God's Acre Cemetery. Son of Harry and Ethel Renu Wade of Burley-in-Wharfedale, West Yorkshire, England. EpitaphL: 'In Everloving Memory Of Albert, A Dear Son And Brother'.

Researched and dedicated to the relatives of this crew with thanks to the extensive research by Errol Martyn and his publications: “For Your Tomorrow Vols. 1-3”, New Zealand Cenotaph, Weekly News of New Zealand, Air Museum of New Zealand, Museum of Transport and Technology, Auckland, National Archive, Kew, AIR27-1365-5/6.

Other pages that nay interest you:

Pages regarding 1939 Losses
Pages detailing RNZAF Losses

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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