Date:	Tuesday 7 June 1949
Time:
Type:	de Havilland DH.98 Mosquito NF Mk 36
Owner/operator:	25 Sqn RAF
Registration:	RL204
MSN:
Fatalities:	Fatalities: 1 / Occupants: 1
Aircraft damage:	Destroyed
Location:	Wrotham Heath, near Borough Green, Kent, England -   United Kingdom
Phase:	Approach
Nature:	Training
Departure airport:	RAF West Malling, Maidstone, Kent
Destination airport:	RAF West Malling, Kent
Confidence Rating:	Information is only available from news, social media or unofficial sources

Narrative:
Mosquito RL204: Took off for training flight. 07/06/1949.
Lost height on overshoot and crashed 4 miles WNW of RAF West Malling.
The pilot had been away from flying duties for more than four years, and was engaged in his first solo flight in a Mosquito since rejoining the RAF. He was making an asymmetric approach, and while on the crosswind leg, called the control tower to say that he would overshoot the approach, and then make another circuit to attempt a landing. The aircraft's undercarriage was retracted, but the aircraft steadily lost height, before striking rising ground near base.
Crew:
F/Lt (Aus.417140) Richard James WILKIE (pilot) RAAF - killed

According to a contemporary newspaper report ("The Times" London 8 June 1949):
"The pilot of a Mosquito aircraft out for landing practice from RAF West Malling was killed then the aircraft crashed and burst into flames at Wrotham Heath near Borough Green, Kent. Flying Officer Wilkie had fought with his aircraft just before it crashed to ensure he missed farm labourers working in the orchards".

There was also a brief mention in the "Western Daily Press" - Wednesday 08 June 1949:
"MOSQUITO PILOT DIES IN CRASH.
The pilot of a Mosquito aircraft, from West Malling (Kent) Aerodrome, was killed when the 'plane crashed and burst into flames on Wrotham Heath, near Borough Green, last night. Telephone lines were cut by the crash."

1. http://www.airhistory.org.uk/dh/_DH98%20prodn%20list.txt
2. Final Landings: A Summary of RAF Aircraft and Combat Losses 1946 to 1949 by Colin Cummings.
3. Royal Air Force Aircraft PA100-RZ999 (James J Halley, Air Britain, 1980)
4. The Times Newspaper, London 8 June 1949
5. Western Daily Press Wednesday 8 June 1949
6. http://www.airhistory.org.uk/dh/_DH98%20prodn%20list.txt
7. ORB 25 Squadron RAF 1-3-1948 to 31-12-1950; National Archives (PRO Kew) File AIR 27/2403/33: https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/D8419309
8. http://sussexhistoryforum.co.uk/index.php?topic=4614.0
9. Biography of Pilot: https://vwma.org.au/explore/people/509736
10. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wrotham_Heath

Date/time	Contributor	Updates
20-Feb-2014 17:01	Nepa	Added
13-May-2014 05:54	Nepa	Updated [Narrative]
31-Jul-2014 15:20	Comet123	Updated [Location, Narrative]
26-Jul-2015 09:52	Nepa	Updated [Aircraft type, Location, Narrative]
29-Aug-2015 12:00	pepa	Updated [Location]
02-Mar-2016 22:22	Comet123	Updated [Total fatalities, Total occupants, Source, Narrative]
21-Mar-2019 14:22	Nepa	Updated [Other fatalities, Narrative, Operator]
02-May-2019 20:14	Nepa	Updated [Location, Nature, Source, Operator]
03-Feb-2020 19:06	Dr. John Smith	Updated [Time, Location, Phase, Departure airport, Destination airport, Source, Narrative]
19-Feb-2020 21:00	Nepa	Updated [Aircraft type, Location, Departure airport, Destination airport, Source, Narrative, Operator]
13-Jan-2021 16:54	Anon.	Updated [Narrative, Operator]
27-Aug-2021 16:18	Anon.	Updated [Time, Narrative, Operator]
08-Aug-2023 09:08	Nepa	Updated [[Time, Narrative, Operator]]