I think 5 died on our course; one was another mate, Harry Beck who went out on a solo night flight and came back in a bag.
This quote jumps out of the page. How many were on your course, Walter? As far as I can see, the RAF lost some 8,300 aircrew in training accidents, not only solo pilots but also entire crews including navigators, engineers, gunners etc. My father recalled that some of the OTU Wellingtons should not have been flying at all, their weary engines were a challenge to experienced pilots and the student had little chance when one failed. The Blenheim's handling quirks were recalled many years later when the one and only restored specimen crashed on its first flight, but looking back after all these years, Walter, would you consider the Beaufighter was more difficult?