ASN Wikibase Occurrence # 220425
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| Date: | Monday 23 October 1916 |
| Time: | day |
| Type: |  Royal Aircraft Factory B.E.2c |
| Owner/operator: | 20 (Reserve) Sqn RFC |
| Registration: | 4723 |
| MSN: | |
| Fatalities: | Fatalities: 1 / Occupants: 2 |
| Aircraft damage: | Destroyed |
| Location: | near RFC Wye, Boughton Corner Farm, Bramble Lane, Ashford. Kent -
 United Kingdom
|
| Phase: | Initial climb |
| Nature: | Military |
| Departure airport: | RFC Wye, Ashford, Kent |
| Confidence Rating: |  Information is only available from news, social media or unofficial sources |
23.10.16: Royal Aircraft Factory B.E.2c 4723, 20 (Reserve) Squadron, RFC Wye, Ashford, Kent. Written off (destroyed) when spun into the ground on turn, near Boughton Corner Farm, Bramble Lane, Wye, Ashford, Kent. Of the two crew on board, one - Air Mechanic 1st Class Cecil Edmund Tombs (Service Number 4951, aged 20) - was killed; the pilot - 2nd Lt William Mitton - was injured. Apparently the machine he was flying in suddenly collapsed in mid air. Buried locally in the Wye (St Gregory and St. Martin) Churchyard, Wye, Ashford, Kent. Grave reference – North East of Church.
According to the aircraft record card for B.E.2c 4723 (see link #3)
"Court of Inquiry 87/8889
1/11/16
Flying accident. Sharp turn resulted in unrecoverable nose dive. Machine completely wrecked. Not sufficient evidence to ascribe a cause for the accident"
According to a contemporary report in the Wye Parish magazine for November 1916 (see link #4)
"Obituary.
Deep sympathy was felt for the relatives of Cecil Edmund Tombs, of the R.F.C., who lost his life in a flying accident on October 23rd. He was buried with full military honours in our Churchyard on Wednesday, October, 25th, a firing party and gun carriage having been specially sent from Canterbury. His loss is much felt in the Squadron, where he was doing high-class and useful service; at the C.E.T.S. Hut, where only on the 'previous Friday he had contributed excellently to the programme: on the football field, where he had been playing centre forward for the team on the previous Saturday; and, socially, by many friends. We realise more than ever that our energetic airmen are continuously on active service, and we are stimulated in our intercession for them, while we give thanks for all they are doing so gallantly at the front"
Sources:
1. http://www.rcawsey.co.uk/Acc1916.htm
2. https://www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/369253/tombs,-cecil-edmund/
3. http://www.rafmuseumstoryvault.org.uk/archive/tombs-c.e.-cecil-edmund
4. https://www.wyehistoricalsociety.org.uk/parish_magazine/1916_11.pdf
5. https://wyesforgottenairmen.wordpress.com/the-airmen/
6. http://www.kentfallen.com/PDF%20REPORTS/WYE%20AERODROME.pdf
7. https://www.facebook.com/HistroriansInc/posts/23-october-1916-commemorating-second-lieutenant-harold-ernest-whiteman-pictured-/728721467274956/
Revision history:
| Date/time | Contributor | Updates |
|---|---|---|
| 02-Jan-2019 02:47 | Dr. John Smith | Added |
| 02-Jan-2019 02:48 | Dr. John Smith | Updated [Narrative] |
| 02-Jan-2019 07:51 | stehlik49 | Updated [Operator] |
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