Wireless-Operator/Air Gunner Sgt Donald A. Marriott died in 'plane crash over England returning from training mission. The aircraft was an Armstrong Whitworth Whitley V Bomber from no.24 Operational Training unit, Honeybourne serial no.Z6639. The Whitley was a pre war bomber which had been superceded by the Halifax,so was elderly by wartime standards and probably the worse for wear. It had taken off from Honeybourne on a non operational training flight shortly after lunch. Soon thereafter the weather worsened developing low cloud and rainstorms.Airborne crews were recalled to base and even an American Douglas DC33 landed because of the appalling conditions. We will never know what happened,but the crew was inexperienced and the most likely explanation is that they became disorientated due to the adverse weather and decended to ascertain a position. The Whitley crashed into high ground just 200yds from the Royal Observer Corps post at Broadway Tower at 14.15hrs. and the e ntire crew except for the rear gunner were killed on impact, he, however, died of his injuries.It is very sad that so many bomber aircrew were killed in accidents just like this,a fact which is not widely appreciated. The other crew were:-
Sgt. H.G.Hagan.Pilot
Sgt. R.S.Phillips. Navigator
Sgt. D.H.Kelly. Bomb Aimer
Sgt. G.E.Ekins. Rear Gunner
Sgt. H.G.Hagan.Pilot
Sgt. R.S.Phillips. Navigator
Sgt. D.H.Kelly. Bomb Aimer
Sgt. G.E.Ekins. Rear Gunner
Wireless-Operator/Air Gunner Sgt Donald A. Marriott died in 'plane crash over England returning from training mission. The aircraft was an Armstrong Whitworth Whitley V Bomber from no.24 Operational Training unit, Honeybourne serial no.Z6639. The Whitley was a pre war bomber which had been superceded by the Halifax,so was elderly by wartime standards and probably the worse for wear. It had taken off from Honeybourne on a non operational training flight shortly after lunch. Soon thereafter the weather worsened developing low cloud and rainstorms.Airborne crews were recalled to base and even an American Douglas DC33 landed because of the appalling conditions. We will never know what happened,but the crew was inexperienced and the most likely explanation is that they became disorientated due to the adverse weather and decended to ascertain a position. The Whitley crashed into high ground just 200yds from the Royal Observer Corps post at Broadway Tower at 14.15hrs. and the e ntire crew except for the rear gunner were killed on impact, he, however, died of his injuries.It is very sad that so many bomber aircrew were killed in accidents just like this,a fact which is not widely appreciated. The other crew were:-
Sgt. H.G.Hagan.Pilot
Sgt. R.S.Phillips. Navigator
Sgt. D.H.Kelly. Bomb Aimer
Sgt. G.E.Ekins. Rear Gunner
Sgt. H.G.Hagan.Pilot
Sgt. R.S.Phillips. Navigator
Sgt. D.H.Kelly. Bomb Aimer
Sgt. G.E.Ekins. Rear Gunner
Inscription
SGT 452 AAF BOMB SQ
WORLD WAR II
Family Members
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
Advertisement
