Date: 7th February 1942
Unit: No.1 B.F.T.S. (British Forces Training School
Type: AT6A (Advanced trainer Harvard/Texan)
Serial: Not known (1)
Coded: Not known (1)
Location: Willis Point, Texas, U.S.A.
Pilot: L.A.C. Raymond Alan Berry 1332118 R.A.F.V.R. Age; 19, Killed
Pilot (2) L.A.C. Leonard George Blower 657849 R.A.F. Age; 21, Killed
REASON FOR LOSS:
Killed whilst on L.G. No. 4 course whilst formation flying. The leader of the formation L.A.C. Baguley was placed under arrest on charges of flying outside the prescribed flying area and leading a formation in flying low and unauthorised maneuvers. However, a summary of evidence was taken and forwarded to Moncton (Canadian Personnel depot) - no details of disciplinary proceedings are available. The last information was that he was commissioned and was an instructor in Canada.
(1) The Dallas Aviation School hangar where the records were held was destroyed in a fire in 1947 following an aircraft crash and the information that we have managed to collate for this report was very kindly supplied to us from Henry Madgwick, Carolyn Allen Long, Lynnette Nadeau of the City of Terrell B.F.T.S. Museum. The information supplied to us has, of course, been passed onto the relatives who requested the research.
Left: Raymond Alan Berry , Right: the Harvard/Texan trainer
Terrell field - the training ground for 1 B.F.T.S.
Burial Details:
Raymond Alan Berry Terrell (Oakland) Memorial Park R.A.F. Grave No. 5 (2)
Son of John William and Beatrice May Berry, of Norwich, Norfolk, England.
Leonard George Blower Terrell (Oakland) Memorial Park R.A.F. Grave No. 6
Son of Mr. and Mrs. George T. Blower, of Redfield, Bristol, Gloucestershire, England.
(2) The Commonwealth War Graves Commission have his grave numbered as No. 1 - we have contacted them to advise of the correction and await their findings. This page will be updated as soon as we have heard from them.
With thanks to the B.F.T.S. Museum in Dallas, Texas for supplying a great deal of information for this loss.
Additional research by David King and Kelvin T. Youngs (Aircrew Remembrance Society March 2009)
