Date: 10th April 1944.
Unit: No. 1653 H.C.U.
Type: Stirling I.
Serial: BF397.
Coded: - K
Location: Chedburgh Airfield.
Pilot: F/L A M F Alexander. R.N.Z.A.F. (Instructor)
Crew: F/O S G W Stokes. R.A.F.
Sgt. R A Partridge. R.A.F.
F/O W A Airey. R.A.F.
F/O A M Rattray. R.C.A.F.
Sgt. E R Bradbury. R.A.F.
Sgt. J F Wilson. R.C.A.F.
Sgt. E G Cooper. R.A.F.
REASON FOR LOSS:
Took-off from Chedburgh (crew No. 80, course No. 17.) for circuits and landings. Bounced on landing at circa 1450 hrs, with the trainee pilot at the controls, and promptly began to swing in the prevailing crosswind. F/L Alexander R.N.Z.A.F. took over but was unable to check the swing before making contact with the runway for a second time, whereupon the wheels folded, no one was too badly hurt.
Over the next three hours, salvage workers concentrated on clearing the runway of the wreck.
This photo taken from the top of the wreck of BF397, shows the arc of the skid and swing to port following the undercarriage collapse, from which debris lay around this interesting shot of the stations Fordson Fire Tender.
Cockpit section of BF397, after the crash.
We will shortly be also publishing a small version of the diary of this instructor - F/L Allan Alexander who the Aircrew Remembrance Society are in contact with. We are simply waiting for high quality pictures to be sent to us. We thank F/L Alexander and Ross Alexander for the information supplied and the tremendous photographs.
