ASN Wikibase Occurrence # 71096
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| Date: | Monday 15 November 1943 |
| Time: | 14:30 |
| Type: |  de Havilland DH.98 Mosquito NF Mk II |
| Owner/operator: | 141 Sqn RAF |
| Registration: | DZ266 |
| MSN: | |
| Fatalities: | Fatalities: 2 / Occupants: 2 |
| Aircraft damage: | Destroyed |
| Location: | RAF stn Wittering, Northamptonshire, England -
 United Kingdom
|
| Phase: | Take off |
| Nature: | Test |
| Departure airport: | RAF Wittering, Northamptonshire |
Mosquito DZ266: Takeoff at 14:30 for Night Flying Test (NFT).15/11/1944
Crashed on take-off on runway RAF Wittering. Mosquito, carrying full operational equipment and long range
petrol tanks, crashed whilst taking off and immediately burst into flames. Soon explosions were occurring almost continuously owing to fuel tanks, cannon shells and Verey cartridges being ignited.
Blazing wreckage was being flung in all directions. Unfortunately, both the rescued airmen died later.
Crew:
F/Lt (129.959) Dennis Frederick Austen WELSH (pilot) RAFVR - killed
F/O (139.951) William George RIPLEY DFM (nav.) RAFVR - killed
Flying Officer Cyril Brooking Thornton (117692), Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve.
15 November, 1943 a Mosquito DZ266, carrying full operational equipment and long range petrol tanks, crashed whilst taking off and immediately burst into flames. Soon explosions were occurring almost continuously owing to fuel tanks, cannon shells and Verey cartridges being ignited.
Blazing wreckage was being flung in all directions. F/O Thornton, a pilot, was one of the first to arrive at the scene of the accident. Finding the navigator had been thrown clear, he made him comfortable, organised the medical party and supervised the injured airman's removal to the ambulance. Then, with complete disregard of his own safety, this officer made straight for the main area of the crash which was surrounded by
barbed wire, and saw that the pilot of the aircraft was lying beside an engine with his clothing on fire.
F/O Thornton went through the wire into the middle of the wreckage to reach the pilot, and, in spite of the great danger he was in, put out the flames on the pilot's clothing, and removed his parachute. With assistance he then carried the pilot to an ambulance. Unfortunately, both the rescued airmen died later but had it not been for the prompt and gallant action of F/O Thornton, who sustained burns to both his hands, neither would have been rescued alive.
Sources:
1.http://www.airhistory.org.uk/dh/_DH98%20prodn%20list.txtt
2.ORB 141 Sqdn RAF
3.https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/36423/supplement/1223
Revision history:
| Date/time | Contributor | Updates |
|---|---|---|
| 06-Jan-2010 07:15 | NePa | Added |
| 06-Jan-2010 07:46 | NePa | Updated [Total fatalities, Total occupants, Country, Narrative] |
| 08-Nov-2011 02:02 | Nepa | Updated [Location, Departure airport, Source, Narrative] |
| 09-Feb-2012 13:32 | Nepa | Updated [Location, Departure airport] |
| 24-Jun-2014 18:54 | Nepa | Updated [Aircraft type, Location, Departure airport, Narrative] |
| 04-Aug-2015 14:35 | Nepa | Updated [Aircraft type, Location, Narrative] |
| 03-Sep-2018 09:15 | Nepa | Updated [Operator, Source, Narrative, Operator] |
| 01-Nov-2021 18:56 | Nepa | Updated [Time, Nature, Source, Narrative, Operator] |
| 01-Nov-2021 21:50 | Nepa | Updated [Source, Narrative, Operator] |
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