ASN Wikibase Occurrence # 209966
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| Date: | Saturday 25 November 1939 |
| Time: | day |
| Type: | Vickers Vildebeest Mk III |
| Owner/operator: | 42 Sqn RAF |
| Registration: | K8079 |
| MSN: | |
| Fatalities: | Fatalities: 1 / Occupants: 2 |
| Aircraft damage: | None |
| Location: | near Docking, Norfolk, England -
 United Kingdom
|
| Phase: | Approach |
| Nature: | Military |
| Departure airport: | RAF Bircham Newton, Kings Lynn, Norfolk |
| RAF Bircham Newton, Norfolk | |
| Confidence Rating: |  Information is only available from news, social media or unofficial sources |
Vickers Vildebeest Mk.III K8079, 42 Squadron, RAF Bircham Newton, Kings Lynn, Norfolk: Fatal flying accident 25/11/39 when Wireless operator fell out of aircraft, near Docking, Norfolk. Wireless Operator - AC.2 Edward William Littlefair Westgarth (Service Number 627599, aged 20) - was killed. The pilot's name was Flying Officer William Barrie-Smith (Service Number 39178). He was later posted as "missing" on 21/6/40 still with 42 Squadron.
Vickers Vildebeest Mk.III K8079 was undamaged in this incident, and was transferred to the RNZAF (Royal New Zealand Air Force) on 2/8/40 as NZ129.
Vildebeest K8079 as RNZAF NZ129:
Arrived New Zealand October 1940 and barged to Hobsonville for assembly.
Allocated to No.1 (GR) Squadron Whenuapai during 1940-1941.
Allocated to No.7 (GR) Squadron Waipapakauri during 1942.
Destroyed by gale at Waipapakauri on 26 August 1942.
According to a contemporary newspaper report ("Western Mail" Saturday 2 December 1939 page 6)
"LATE MR, E. W. WESTGARTH
Mr. Edward William Westgarth. of the Royal Air Force, who died following a flying accident somewhere in England, was buried on Friday" (i.e 1st Dec 1939) "from his home, 26, Coedcae-street, Cardiff, internment being in Cardiff Cemetery
The Rev. E. A. R. Nicholl, Grange, officiated. Chief mourners were:—Mr. an«l Mrs. C. Westgarth (father and mother). Mr. James Westgarth (brother), Mr. and Mrs. A. Richards and Miss Gwyneth Westgarth (brother-in-law and sister), Mrs. Nellie Harrison (aunt). of the Royal Air Force, in charge Pilot-officer C. Harrison and Flight Sergeant R. Boreham. acted as bearers and formed escort"
NOTE: The Air Britain reference book (see link #1) wrongly lists the aircraft involved as K8080. As confirmed by 42 Squadron ORB, Air Ministry Forms 81 and F1180 (Aircraft Record Card) the aircraft involved was K8079. However, the relevant file at the National Archives at Kew - Air 81 file AIR 81/1685 - is closed until 01/01/2030
Sources:
1. Royal Air Force Aircraft K1000-K9999 (James J. Halley, Air Britain, 1976 page 67.
2. http://www.rcawsey.co.uk/Acc1939a.htm
3. https://www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/2716983/westgarth,-edward-william-littlefair/
4. http://www.adf-gallery.com.au/.au/nz-serials/nzvildebeest.htm
5. http://www.rafcommands.com/forum/showthread.php?7829-AC2-Edward-William-Littlefair-Westgarth-627599-Died-25-11-39-42-Sqd
6. 42 Squadron RAF ORB (Air Ministry Form 540) November 1939: http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/D8411867
7. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Docking,_Norfolk#RAF_Docking
Revision history:
| Date/time | Contributor | Updates |
|---|---|---|
| 27-Apr-2018 19:34 | Dr. John Smith | Added |
| 27-Apr-2018 19:36 | Dr. John Smith | Updated [Narrative] |
| 28-Apr-2018 15:19 | Dr. John Smith | Updated [Registration, Narrative] |
| 10-May-2018 23:11 | Dr. John Smith | Updated [Narrative] |
| 10-May-2018 23:11 | Dr. John Smith | Updated [Total occupants] |
| 10-Nov-2018 22:18 | Nepa | Updated [Operator, Destination airport, Operator] |
| 23-May-2023 17:47 | Nepa | Updated [[Operator, Destination airport, Operator]] |
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