Many thanks to all the contributors so far, both on this forum and also via PM. My house move is almost complete but chaos still reigns. Anyway I will try and provide some more info and also ask a few questions too.
Many thanks for the list of names supplied earlier on. I can add a few more to the list;
Cpl Pitman
AC Cuthbertson
AC Claypole
Sgt Low
Flying Off Chesney
Sgt Minto
Flt Lt Hayes
W/O Bradley
The first three airmen were 293 Sqn ground crew taking part in a post maintenance test flight and were killed in the crash of Warwick coded W on 18 April 1943, so far the exact aircraft has not been identified. The pilot lost control after an engine cover jammed the elevator controls and the aircraft crashed into high ground.
The 293 Sqn ORB records the following in reference to Flt Lt Hayes;
‘F/Lt. Hayes and W/O. Bradley airborne in Walrus 9506 (X9506 ZE-C) at 17.50hrs to endeavour to effect a rescue. They were in position at 18.15hrs and were extremely pleased to see seven Spitfires orbiting the position. Unfortunately the two people on shore had swum out to the dinghy and taken the pilot on shore. The Walrus circled low while preparing a note instructing the pilot to row out to sea in a boat seen by the Walrus pilot. When circling for the third time automatic small arms fire was encountered, one bullet entering the cockpit through the windscreen and wounding Hayes in the left arm. The Walrus circled for some time afterwards to ensure that the pilot on the ground had taken cover and then returned to base at 19.15hrs. F/Lt. Hayes is the first member of 293 Sqn injured in action’.
I do not have access to the official records from across the pond of course but the following is a list of aircraft and codes that I have gleaned from Dad’s notes. If anyone can add any more or confirm any missing codes etc I would love to hear from you. Also I wonder if anyone has, or knows where I can get, a list of Warwick histories. There is very little on the web that I have been able to find. Maybe something has been published elsewhere that I am not aware. Any info welcome.
Warwick
BV234 ZE-F, ZE-L
BV237 ZE-F
BV238 ZE-K
BV243
BV251 ZE-E
BV269
BV271 ZE-F
BV273
BV274 ZE-S
BV275 ZE-O
BV277 ZE-T
BV278 ZE-U
BV279 ZE-M
BV283 ZE-M
BV284 ZE-D
BV287 ZE-V
BV297 ZE-F
BV315 ZE-H
BV332 ZE-R
BV365
BV415 ZE-C
BV420
BV444 ZE-A
BV445 ZE-A
BV446 ZE-G
BV447 ZE-U1
BV449 ZE-A
BV450 ZE-X1
BV451
BV454 ZE-D
BV455 ZE-Y
BV457 ZE-E
BV464 ZE-B
BV502 ZE-N
BV505
HF948 ZE-F
HF955 ZE-A, ZE-H
HF958 ZE-H
HF966 ZE-H
HG132 ZE-C
Hurricane
K2736
KW849
LB660
Walrus
P5667 ZE-V
L2170
L2207
L2217
L2266
W2719 ZE-Q
W2729 ZE-T
W2750
W2757 ZE-O
X9474 ZE-F
X9503
X9506 ZE-C
Z1756 ZE-Y
Z1777
Z1779
Z1813
I have been in contact with the family of Ted Boness a WAG with 293 Sqn and after comparing logbooks etc it was discovered that he was on BV454 that crash landed and is pictured in the first post of this thread. Small world made even smaller by the power of the internet.
Finally in one of the PMs that I received a reference was made to a Warwick of 293 Sqn that crash landed on the beach in Italy. I wonder if it was this one that did exactly that at Vesti on 17th April 1944.
My father sent a team out to retrieve some badly needed spares from the wreck before the Royal Engineers were called in to blow up the remains.
In my next post I will try and upload some photos of visitors to 293 Sqn bases as there are some interesting aircraft that others might like to see.
That’s all for now.
QP