ASN Wikibase Occurrence # 1728
This information is added by users of ASN. Neither ASN nor the Flight Safety Foundation are responsible for the completeness or correctness of this information.
If you feel this information is incomplete or incorrect, you can submit corrected information.
| Date: | Monday 28 December 1942 |
| Time: | |
| Type: | Boulton Paul Defiant Mk II |
| Owner/operator: | 286 Sqn RAF |
| Registration: | AA664 |
| MSN: | 914 |
| Fatalities: | Fatalities: 1 / Occupants: 1 |
| Aircraft damage: | Destroyed |
| Location: | Wayne Farm, Cross Ash, approx 8 miles east of Abergavenny, Wales -
 United Kingdom
|
| Phase: | En route |
| Nature: | Military |
| Departure airport: | RAF Rhoose, South Glamorgan |
| RAF Rhoose, South Glamorgan |
From the 24th of January 1942 the squadron was headquartered at newly operational RAF Lulsgate Bottom. However, as the facilities there were still unfinished, from the 2nd of March to the 30th of April the headquarters used RAF Colerne. It returned to Lulsgate only briefly before leaving for RAF Zeals on the 26th of May. The squadron served at various locations and detachments around the west country & Wales before finally moving to RAF Western Zoyland, where it was disbanded on 16 May 1945.
As with the Defiant AA632 crash at Swansea on the 18th of November. This Defiant AA664 was another aircraft of 286 squadron on detachment, this one was based at RAF Rhoose. It appears, the 21-year-old pilots’ task was to fly over searchlight batteries around the town of Newport, so they could calibrate their range finders and in turn, the lights. It is not clear in the squadron records why Sgt Dennis was flying in this area which is mostly farmland and forests. However, the records quote:
“1217613 Sgt Dennis, D.A.G. (No. 286 Squadron Detachment), RAF Station Rhoose. Flying Defiant II AA664, crashed & fatally injured at Wayne Farm, Cross Ash, approximately 8 miles East of Abergavenny.”
In truth, it was found in the AM1180, that he had encountered thick low cloud and before he could react, he flew into a rising valley hillside in his attempt to keep the ground in view, thereby avoiding a crash but to no avail. He survived the initial impact only to succumb to his injuries a short time later.
Crew:
Sgt (1217613) Donald Arthur Gladstone DENNIS (pilot) RAFVR - killed
Sources:
1. Royal Air Force Aircraft AA100-AZ999 (James J Halley, Air Britain, 1987)
2. http://www.rafcommands.com/database/serials/details.php?uniq=AA664
3. CWGC: https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/2413759/donald-arthur-gladstone-dennis/
4. 286 Squadron ORB for December 1942: National Archives (PRO Kew) File AIR27/1621/16: https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/D8399437
5. https://sheffieldwarmemorials.weebly.com/de-la-salle-college.html
6. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cross_Ash
Revision history:
| Date/time | Contributor | Updates |
|---|---|---|
| 08-Feb-2008 13:53 | JINX | Added |
| 22-Apr-2015 20:40 | Giggatson | Updated [Operator, Source, Narrative] |
| 07-Feb-2021 17:12 | rvargast17 | Updated [Date, Source] |
| 19-Nov-2022 14:43 | Davies 62 | Updated [Operator, Departure airport, Destination airport, Source, Narrative] |
Corrections or additions? ... Edit this accident description
The Aviation Safety Network is an exclusive service provided by:
Quick Links:
| ASN Home | Send Correction / Feedback |
| FSF Home | Disclaimer | Copyright |
| Contact Us | Privacy Policy |
| Press / Media |
CONNECT WITH US:
©2024 Flight Safety Foundation