Operation: Training

Date: 22nd September 1940 (Sunday)

Unit: No. 17 O.T.U. (Operational Training Unit)

Type: Blenheim I

Serial: L8610

Base: RAF Upwood.

Location: Abersychan, Wales

Pilot: Sgt. Hubert Henry Wilson 745159 RAFVR Age 22. Killed

Obs: P/O. Anthony Drake Coplestone 84720 RAFVR Age 29. Killed

W/Op/Air/Gnr: Sgt. John November 938877 RAFVR Age 20. Killed (1)

REASON FOR LOSS:

On a training exercise with 11 other Blenheim's from the unit. Weather conditions were described as low cloud base as they took off to carry out navigational training.

L8610 was heard by locals in the Garndiffaith area as flying very low when shortly afterwards at around 15:10 hrs it crashed into the summit of Garn Wen in the south eastern corner of the Breacon Beacons.

The official course of the accident was placed as pilot error, but investigations at this stage of the war were not as thorough as perhaps they could have been.

The first person to arrive at the scene was a local policeman P.C. Tom Jarvis, who remained at the crash site overnight, sleeping in a tent to deter souvenir hunters. All the crew were killed.

(1) Sgt. John November was a former pupil of Moseley Grammar school (Now secondary/grammar school). We are working very closely with the school's historians to remember all the ex pupils who died whilst serving with the RAF and recorded on the school memorial.

Left: The memorial (courtesy Ken Clark)

Burial details:

Sgt. Hubert Henry Wilson. Bury Cemetery (Huntingdonshire) Row c. Grave 22. Son of Frederick George and Annie Maud Wilson, of Muswell Hill, Middlesex, England.

P/O. Anthony Drake Coplestone. Boldre (St. John) Churchyard. Row 1. Grave 1. Son of William Drake Coplestone, M.A., B.CH., and Edith Mary Coplestone, of Gorey, Jersey, Channel Islands. B.A. (Cantab.) Barrister, Member of Inner Temple; M.I.C.A.

Sgt. John November.Yardley Wood (Christ Church) Churchyard Sec. F. Grave 110. Son of David and Maud F. November, of Hall Green, Birmingham, England.

With thanks to the following: Ken Clark who has researched this loss and produced a booklet in association with Abersychan and Garndiffaith local history group. (Available to purchase) Keith Townsend historian of Moseley Secondary/Grammar school memorial records other sources as quoted.

At the going down of the sun, and in the morning we will remember them. - Laurence Binyon
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