ASN Wikibase Occurrence # 220498
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| Date: | Saturday 11 November 1916 |
| Time: | morning |
| Type: |  Royal Aircraft Factory B.E.2e |
| Owner/operator: | 66 Sqn RFC |
| Registration: | 7211 |
| MSN: | |
| Fatalities: | Fatalities: 1 / Occupants: 1 |
| Aircraft damage: | Destroyed |
| Location: | Tormarton, Gloucestershire -
 United Kingdom
|
| Phase: | Landing |
| Nature: | Military |
| Departure airport: | RFC Filton, Bristol, Gloucestershire |
| Farnborough Airfield, Farnborough, Hampshire | |
| Confidence Rating: |  Information is only available from news, social media or unofficial sources |
11.11.16: Royal Aircraft Factory B.E.2e No. 7211, 66 Squadron, RFC, Filton, Bristol. Written off (destroyed) when stalled trying to avoid trees. Evidently being lost in the fog and not knowing where he was, the pilot descended and flew his plane into a hill and crashed at Tormarton, Gloucestershire, being killed instantly. The inquest into the accident concluded that the pilot had been flying low in foggy weather, when the aircraft suddenly nose-dived to the ground and there was an explosion. It is likely that the pilot was attempting to put the aircraft down and either "wait out" the fog and/or get his bearings.
Pilot - 2nd Lt George Edward Giles (aged 24) - was killed. George was laid to rest in Canford Cemetery, Bristol, and his grave is marked by a marble cross memorial stone. According to the aircraft accident card for B.E.2e No.7211 (see link #3)
"Court of Inquiry 87/9004
17/11/16
Flying accident. Trying to avoid tress. Stalled. Machine was in good order before flight. The Court of Inquiry found that the accident was due to an error in judgement in landing."
According to a contemporary report in "Flight" magazine (November 16, 1916 page 1002 - see link #4)
"Casualties
Lieutenant GEORGE EDWARD GILES, R.F.C. (killed whilst flying on duty on November 11th), was only son of Major and Mrs. G. D. Giles, of Douglas Lodge, Newmarket, and grandson of the late Mr. George Barclay, of Coates Crescent, Edinburgh. At the time of the accident that caused his death he was pilot of the machine. He had his Army rank of Lieutenant in August last year, and was gazetted Assistant Equipment Officer, Royal Flying Corps, in June."
Sources:
1. http://www.rcawsey.co.uk/Acc1916.htm
2. https://www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/358025/giles,-/
3. http://www.rafmuseumstoryvault.org.uk/archive/giles-g.e.-george-edward
4. Flight magazine (November 19 1916 page 1008): https://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1916/1916%20-%201016.html?search=John%20Alfred%20Davy
5. https://www.facebook.com/clyneheritage/posts/25-george-edward-giles-november-11th-1916clyne-war-memorial-centenary-tributesdi/1321699541187859/
6. Biography: http://www.greshamsatwar.co.uk/Filename.ashx?systemFileName=GRESroh000045.pdf&origFilename=GRESroh000045.pdf
7. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tormarton
Revision history:
| Date/time | Contributor | Updates |
|---|---|---|
| 03-Jan-2019 20:48 | Dr. John Smith | Added |
| 13-Jan-2019 13:20 | stehlik49 | Updated [Operator] |
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