Nostalgia Page 17
The crash of
FAIREY SWORDFISH Mk.I. K5985
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18th March 1938
On the 18th of March 1938 A Fairey Swordfish K5985 of "A" Flight,Torpedo Training Unit based
at Gosport undertook a cross country training flight to the west .The aircraft was carrying a crew of three.The Pilot was 21 year old Pilot Officer Frederick Edgar Williams.Also on board were Corporal Cyril John Coles(aged 32) and LAC David Samuel Hurrell.
Unfortunately,during the flight the weather closed in and the aircraft flew into a hillside in the Swyre Valley,near Corfe Castle in Dorset.The aircraft burnt on impact and the three occupants were killed.
According to the RAF Flying Accident Card(reproduced below)visibility was down to 200 yards when the accident occurred- the aircraft striking the ground at about 600ft ASL.
The three crew ,all of whom came from the southwest of England ,received military funerals five days later on the 24th March.
Reproduced below ,by kind permission of Ian Ellis- grandson of Corporal Coles are the Accident Card and also PO Williams' Record Card showing his flying hours.Also below is a photo of Corporal Coles' grave at Torpoint with his young daughter(Ian's mother) tending the grave(Taken possibly about 1943-44)
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The two small pictures above show Cpl Coles (top) and Cpl and Mrs Coles
K5985 Crash
Nostalgia Page 17
The crash of
FAIREY SWORDFISH Mk.I. K5985
Back to Main List
E-Mail me!
18th March 1938
On the 18th of March 1938 A Fairey Swordfish K5985 of "A" Flight,Torpedo Training Unit based
at Gosport undertook a cross country training flight to the west .The aircraft was carrying a crew of three.The Pilot was 21 year old Pilot Officer Frederick Edgar Williams.Also on board were Corporal Cyril John Coles(aged 32) and LAC David Samuel Hurrell.
Unfortunately,during the flight the weather closed in and the aircraft flew into a hillside in the Swyre Valley,near Corfe Castle in Dorset.The aircraft burnt on impact and the three occupants were killed.
According to the RAF Flying Accident Card(reproduced below)visibility was down to 200 yards when the accident occurred- the aircraft striking the ground at about 600ft ASL.
The three crew ,all of whom came from the southwest of England ,received military funerals five days later on the 24th March.
Reproduced below ,by kind permission of Ian Ellis- grandson of Corporal Coles are the Accident Card and also PO Williams' Record Card showing his flying hours.Also below is a photo of Corporal Coles' grave at Torpoint with his young daughter(Ian's mother) tending the grave(Taken possibly about 1943-44)
~
The two small pictures above show Cpl Coles (top) and Cpl and Mrs Coles
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