Casualties 1927

Air of Authority - A History of RAF Organisation

Casualties January - December 1927

Date	Rank	Name	Unit, Aircraft & Comments
1 Jan	LAC	CAREW, FRANK	He was serving with No 208 Sqn and died in hospital at Ismailia from burns to the legs and thighs, he is buried in Ismailia War Memorial Cemetery.
4 Jan	AC2	LLEWELLYN, SLYVAN EVANS	He appears to have fallen from a window of the Officers' Mess and is buried in Pieta Military Cemetery.
18 Jan	Flt Lt	BREWERTON, CYRIL FRASER DSC	He was killed in a flying accident in Malta, whilst flying Bison, N9972 of No 423 Flt. Also killed in the accident were Fg Off E Chafe, Lt G O O Jones RN and L/Tel G W Barton RN. The aircraft was flying close to cliffs at low level when the pilot encountered disturbed air which threw the aircraft out of control the starboard wing hit the ground plunging it into the sea.
18 Jan	Fg Off	CHAFE, EDWIN (Lt RN)	He was killed in a flying accident in Malta, whilst flying in Bison, N9972 of No 423 Flt. Also killed in the accident were Flt Lt C F Brewerton, Lt G O O Jones RN and L/Tel G W Barton RN. The aircraft was flying close to cliffs at low level when the pilot encountered disturbed air which threw the aircraft out of control the starboard wing hit the ground plunging it into the sea.
25 Jan	AC2	WRIGHT, GERALD CLINCH (321108)	He died in the Station Sick Quarters at RAF Manston from pneumonia from attack of influenza.
27 Jan	Fg Off	SATTIN, ARTHUR	He was flying Flycatcher, N9916 of No 405 Flt when he failed to land aboard HMS 'Furious' off the coast of Portugal and was drowned.
28 Jan	Fg Off	CAMPBELL, GORDON THURSBY (Lt RN)	He was flying Dart, N9800 of No 462 Flt (HMS 'Furious') when he attempted to land on the rolling deck of the ship off the south west coast of Spain. His aircraft went over the starboard side of the ship and he drowned.
28 Jan	Flt Lt	MEGGITT, WILLIAM GEOFFREY MC	He was serving with HQ Fighting Area and was killed in a flying accident at Beatrice Avenue, Norbury, London whilst flying Siskin III, J7171 of No 41 Sqn.
1 Feb	Fg Off	MILLS, JOHN YARNTON (Lt RN)	He was killed in a mid air collision whilst undertaking mock attacks against Fairey IIID, N9576 of No 441 Flt. He was flying Flycatcher, S1069 of No 402 Flt and the accident occurred off Benghisa Point, Malta. The pilot of the Fairey IIID was unhurt and his passenger only slightly injured.
2 Feb	Plt Off	LEWIS, GOMER FLOWER	He was killed in flying accident in Woodcock II, J7736 of No 3 Sqn at Upavon. He was acting as the target aircraft during a camera gun practice when he stalled at 400 ft and dived into the ground.
4 Feb	Plt Off	EVANS, SIDNEY ARTHUR VERNON	He was killed in a flying accident when he flew into a hill near Rottingdean in Grebe II, J7582 of No 56 Sqn whilst flying in fog.
27 Feb	WO2	MURPHY, JOHN JACK PATRICK	A member of the Service Police at SHQ Hinaidi, he died at RAF Hinaidi from pulmonary tuberculosis and is buried in Ma'asker Al Raschid RAF Cemetery.
28 Feb	AC1	PILCHER, BERTRAM CHARLES	He was serving as a Wireless Operator with No 6 Sqn when he died from a fractured skull sustained in a fall from a horse the previous day and is buried in Ma'asker Al Raschid RAF Cemetery.
9 Mar	Cpl	EAST, ARTHUR AFM	A Rigger (Aero), he was killed during a parachute demonstration at Biggin Hill. He was attempting a record descent without opening from 6,000 ft but opened his chute too late (at 100 ft) and hit the ground before it had fully deployed.
10 Mar	Fg Off	WALKER, JOHN MATTHEW RAFO	He was killed whilst flying Bristol Jupiter Type 89, G-EBOA, belonging to Beardmore Flying School, which stalled, crashed and caught fire at Renfrew.
11 Mar	LAC	DOBBS, ERNEST ARTHUR AFM	He was serving as a Rigger (Aero) at the Home Aircraft Depot, RAF Henlow but was killed whilst making a parachute jump from a balloon at Stag Lane, Edgware, being electrocuted when he landed on power lines.
12 Mar	Fg Off	RIGG, ROBERT OWEN (Hon Flt Lt)	He was killed in a flying accident at Peshawar whilst flying Fairey IIIF, S1139 of No 60 Sqn, which was attached to the squadron for theatre trials
12 Mar	LAC	MEADON, WILLIAM JAMES	He was serving as a Carpenter Rigger at the Aircraft Park when he was killed in a flying accident at Peshawar whilst flying in Fairey IIIF, S1139 of No 60 Sqn, piloted by Flt Lt R O Rigg.
12 Mar	LAC	SEXTON, PATRICK JOHN	He was serving as a Fitter (Aero Engine) at te Aircraft Park when he was killed in a flying accident at Peshawar whilst flying in Fairey IIIF, S1139 of No 60 Sqn, piloted by Flt Lt R O Rigg.
18 Mar	Plt Off	PRIESTMAN, FREDERICK	He was killed whilst flying Horsley II, J8012 of No 11 Sqn, which crashed at Water Farm, near Elham on a cross country flight.
18 Mar	LAC	PICKERING, JOHN WILLIAM	He was killed whilst in flying Horsley II, J8012 of No 11 Sqn, which crashed at Water Farm, near Elham on a cross country flight.
19 Apr	Flt Sgt	ALDERTON, ALBERT GEORGE	He was killed in a flying accident at Eastchurch whilst flying in Virginia VI, J7714 of No 9 Sqn. They was taking off from the hanger when the aircraft collided with a stationary DH9A.
19 Apr	AC2	DANIELS, EVERETT	He was killed in a flying accident at Eastchurch whilst flying in Virginia VI, J7714 of No 9 Sqn. They was taking off from the hanger when the aircraft collided with a stationary DH9A.
19 Apr	Plt Off	DOWDESWELL, JOHN FREDERICK	whilst flying in Virginia VI, J7714 of No 9 Sqn. They was taking off from the hanger when the aircraft collided with a stationary DH9A.
19 Apr	Fg Off	KELLY, WILLIAM JAMES	He was killed in a flying accident at Eastchurch whilst flying Virginia VI, J7714 of No 9 Sqn. He was taking off from the hanger when the aircraft collided with a stationary DH9A.
3 May	Plt Off	BLATCHFORD, KEITH CONWAY	He was severely injured in a flying accident whilst flying an unidentified Avro 504N of No 2 FTS and died from his injuries the following day. He is buried at Cranwell.
12 May	Fg Off	FOOT, WILLIAM ALAN RAFO	He was killed in a flying accident in DH9J, G-EBLH of the De Havilland Flying School which crashed at Littlewick, near Maidenhead.
13 May	Flt Cdt	BENTLEY, ALFRED CYRIL	He was killed in a flying accident at Henlow whilst landing downwind in Bristol F2B, F4940 of the RAF College, whilst on a cross-country exercise.
13 May	Fg Off	CARTER, RICHARD FENNER (Hon Flt Lt)	He was flying an unidentified Fairey IIID of the RAF Base Gosport when he was involved in a flying accident near Gosport from which he later died of his injuries.
16 May	Plt Off	HOLDEN, ARTHUR LESLIE	He was severely injured in a flying accident whilst flying Gamecock I, J8043 of No 32 Sqn at Kenley, which collided with J8042 of the same unit whilst in formation. He died of his injuries later that day.
16 May	Plt Off	MACE, ARTHUR GEORGE	He was killed in a flying accident at Queensferry whilst flying Avro 504N, H255 of No 5 FTS, which spun into the ground after control was lost. This was possibly his first or an early solo flight.
19 May	Flt Lt	PORTER, EDWARD ERNEST MBE, DCM	He was serving as a Stores Officer at the Aircraft Depot, Iraq, when he died, cause unknown.
25 May	Fg Off	HOWARD, ROBERT DOUGLAS VERNON RAFO	He was an employee of Imperial Airways, but was killed whilst flying DH9A, J7831 of No 14 Sqn, which crashed at Gaza.
26 May	Fg Off	COCKS, JOHN JAMES CROFTS	He was undertaking a private flight from India to England accompanied by LAC Rowston in DH9, G-IAAB (formerly D3180, an Imperial Gift to India), which went missing between Kania and Constantinople, Turkey. He was eventually classified missing presumed to have died on or since 26 May 1927.
26 May	LAC (Act Cpl)	ROWSTON, JACK	He was serving as a Fitter (Aero Engine) at the Aircraft Park, India and was accompanying Fg Off J J C Cocks on a private flight from India to England in DH9, G-IAAB (formerly D3180, an Imperial Gift to India), which went missing between Kania and Constantinople, Turkey. He was eventually classified missing presumed to have died on or since 26 May 1927.
30 May	Fg Off	MILLER, HORACE	He died from injuries sustained whilst flying in an unidentified Avro 504N of the CFS which crashed in an attempted forced landing at Easton.
6 Jun	Sqn Ldr	LONGTON, WALTER HUNT DFC, AFC	He was killed whilst flying the Blackburn Bluebird I, G-EBKD at Bournemouth in the Medium Power Handicap Race when he collided with Westland Widgeon III, G-EBPW. He is buried in Upavon Church Cemetery.
6 Jun	Flt Lt	OPENSHAW, LAWRENCE PRATT RAFO	He was killed whilst flying the Westland Widgeon III, G-EBPW at Bournemouth in the Medium Power Handicap Race when he collided with Blackburn Bluebird I, G-EBKD.
8 Jun	LAC	BELCHER, THOMAS H	He died in the Military Hospital at Moascar from Meningitis whilst serving as a Fitter (Aero Engine) at No 4 FTS and is buried in Ismailia War Memorial Cemetery.
9 Jun	Fg Off	FORBES, HAYDON MARRIOTT SUTHERLAND DSC (Lt Cdr RN)	He was killed in a flying accident whilst carrying out a bombing practice in Flycatcher, N9887 of No 402 Flt at Marsa Scirocco in Malta.
16 Jun	Flt Lt	BAGGS, HUMPHREY WILLIAM	He was killed in a flying accident whilst piloting an unidentified Snipe DC of the CFS near Stamford.
16 Jun	Fg Off	BELL, SYDNEY FLEETWOOD	He was killed whilst flying in an unidentified Snipe DC of the CFS flown by Fg Off H W Baggs.
22 Jun	LAC	KIMPTON, ROBERT WILLIAM	He died in Basrah Combined Hospital from the effects of heat whilst serving as Armoured Car Crew with No 1 Section, Armoured Car Wing and is buried in Basra (Makina) RAF Cemetery.
22 Jun	Fg Off	SALMOND, RAWDON FRANK GERALD (Lt RN)	He was seriously injured in a flying accident at Dundee in Fairey IIID, S1094 of the RAF Base Leuchars. He was admitted to hospital but died of his injuries and is buried in Shorncliffe Military Cemetery.
30 Jun	LAC	BULL, ARTHUR ROBERT FREDERICK	Aircraft Depot, Iraq and died in the RAF Hospital at Hinaidi from Typhoid and is buried in Ma'asker Al Raschid RAF Cemetery.
5 Jul	Sgt	PENNICOTT, FREDERICK THOMAS	He was serving with No 17 Sqn and was killed in an accident at RAF Upavon, possibly as a result of Woodcock II, J8300 catching fire on the ground
6 Jul		VAUGHAN, ERROLL ARTHUR O'SHEA	He died in the RAF Hospital, Cranwell , cause unknown.
6 Jul	Sgt	DILLON, THOMAS PATRICK (353495)	He was serving as a Musician at the Aircraft Depot, Hinaidi and died in the British General Hospital from natural causes including heart failure and a greatly distended gall bladder, he is buried in Ma'asker Al Raschid RAF Cemetery.
10 Jul	Fg Off	SMITH, ARCHIBALD EDWARD PROTHEROE	He was serving with No 17 Sqn and died in Tidworth Military Hospital following a car accident on Salisbury Plain, when his car skidded and overturned.
10 Jul	A/A	MURDOCK, DONALD LEWIS (560349)	He was serving at the Electrical and Wireless School (RAF) and died in the RAF Hospital, Halton from a cerebral tumour.
12 Jul	Fg Off	PHILLIPS, LEONARD WILLIAM HENNELL (Hon Flt Lt)	Missing presumed killed after being involved in a seaplane accident whilst undertaking bombing practice in Hong Kong Harbour, flying Flycatcher, N9910 of No 403 Flt.
13 Jul	AC2	MART, C	He died from burns in No 7 General Hospital, Shanghai, whilst serving with No 2 Sqn.
17 Jul	AC1	BUMSTEAD, E H	He died of natural causes whilst serving with No 5 Sqn.
18 Jul	Plt Off	SHORTER, WILLIAM HORACE	He was killed in a flying accident at Camberley flying Bristol Fighter F2B, J7671 of No 13 Sqn, when the aircraft caught fire and dived into a road.
18 Jul	AC1	ROGERS, LESLIE	A Fitter (Aero Engine), he was killed in a flying accident at Camberley flying in Bristol F2B, J7671 of No 13 Sqn, piloted by Plt Off W H Shorter, when the aircraft caught fire and dived into a road.
19 Jul	Cpl	ROBINS, REGINALD WILLIAM RICHARD	A Fitter (Aero Engine), he was training as a pilot when he was killed whilst flying DH9A, J7868 of No 4 FTS at Aboukir, when it stalled on take off, spun in and caught fire.
20 Jul	Plt Off	PACE, RICHARD GRIFFITH	He was killed whilst flying Grebe, J7907 of No 32 Sqn, which crashed at Sutton Bridge after failing to pull out of an attack on a ground target.
21 Jul	LAC	SELF, WILLIAM CECIL CLARENCE	He died from typhoid fever whilst serving as a Carpenter Rigger at the Aircraft Depot, Iraq and is buried in Ma'asker Al Raschid RAF Cemetery.
22 Jul	AC1	BACON, HAROLD KAUNTZE	A Rigger (Aero), he was killed in flying accident at El Tablan in Egypt whilst flying in an unidentified DH9A of No 47 Sqn. In one report it states the pilot, Fg Off F S Homersham was uninjured, whilst in another that he was killed.
22 Jul	Flt Sgt	SMITH, G	Cairo New British Protestant Cemetery
24 Jul	LAC	HART, ALFRED CLAUDIUS	A Fitter (Aero Engine), he was killed in a flying accident at Old Chaman, India whilst flying in an unidentified Bristol Fighter of No 31 Sqn, piloted by Fg Off R E Slacke
24 Jul	Fg Off	SLACKE, RANDAL EARL	He was killed in a flying accident at Old Chaman, India whilst flying an unidentified Bristol Fighter of No 31 Sqn.
25 Jul	Fg Off	ANDERSON, IAN ANDREW	He was killed in a flying accident at Northolt whilst flying Woodcock II, J7967 of No 17 Sqn. Whilst landing in formation his tail was hit by the propeller of J7976.
26 Jul	Fg Off	GEORGE, WILLIAM RAFO	Died
28 Jul	Fg Off	BARNARD, FRANKLYN LESLIE OBE, AFC, RAFO	He was killed at Winterbourne, Gloucester whilst flying Bristol Type 99A Badminton, G-EBMK during a test flight in preparation for the King's Cup Air Race. He had flown for Imperial Airways.
1 Aug	Fg Off	BOON, ALEXANDER GOODISON (Lt R. Scots)	He was killed in a flying accident at Farnborough, piloting Bristol Fighter F2B, xxxxx of No 13 Sqn.
1 Aug	LAC	VINCENT, STANLEY NOEL	He was serving as a Carpenter Rigger when he was killed in a flying accident at Farnborough in Bristol F2B, xxxxx of No 13 Sqn, flown by Fg Off A G Boon.
16 Aug	Flt Lt	ANNESLEY,WILLIAM ROBERT BATHURST	He was serving at RAF Training Base, Leuchars when he died, cause unknown.
19 Aug	LAC	HARROWER, JAMES	He died in Moascar Military Hospital from appendicitis whilst serving as a Wireless Operator with No 208 Sqn and is buried in Ismailia War Memorial Cemetery.
23 Aug	Flt Lt	CAMPION, OLIVER ST LEGER MRCS, LRCP, RAFO	He died suddenly of heart failure in Cairo aged 35.
26 Aug	Plt Off	KELLY, HAROLD CYPRIAN	He was killed whilst flying Woodcock II, J7734 of No 3 Sqn, which crashed at Upavon and is buried in Upavon Church Cemetery .
26 Aug	Flt Sgt	SMITH, GILBERT	He was seriously injured in a flying accident at Heliopolis flying DH9A, xxxxx of No 45 Sqn on 24 Aug 1927, dying of his injuries two days later in hospital. The aircraft was being flown by LAC (Act Sgt) George Bruce Gillie.
31 Aug	Sqn Ldr	MINCHIN, FREDERICK FRANK CBE, DSO, MC (RARO)	He is presumed to have died on or since 31 August 1927, having been lost on a trans-Atlantic attempt in Fokker FVIIA G-EBTQ with Fg Off Leslie Hamilton and the Princess Lowenstein,
7 Sep	Fg Off	MEDCALF, JAMES VICTOR RAFO	He is presumed to have died on or since 7 September 1927 having been lost whilst attempting a trans-Atlantic flight in the Stinson-Detroiter monoplane belonging to the Carling Brewery, together with Terrence Tully.
9 Sep	Flt Cdt	BEDDELL, ROBERT SPENCER	He was seriously injured in a flying accident at Leadenham in DH9A, xxxxx of the RAF College and later died of his injuries.
15 Sep	Wg Cdr	GASKELL, ARTHUR BRUCE DSC	He was killed in a flying accident at Hinaidi flying Bristol Fighter F2B, H1632 of No 30 Sqn. At the time of his death he was serving as an air staff officer at HQ, Iraq Command. He is buried in Ma'asker Al Raschid R.A.F. Cemetery.
15 Sep	LAC	KITTOW ROBERTS, WILLIAM RONALD	He was injured in a flying accident at Hinaidi in Bristol Fighter, H1632 of No 30 Sqn, flown by Wg Cdr A B Gaskell and later died of his injuries. He is buried in Ma'asker Al Raschid R.A.F. Cemetery.
24 Sep	Sgt	KELLY, JAMES	He was killed whilst flying a Siskin IIIA of No 111 Sqn, which collided with the tail of an Avro 504K of No 19 Sqn during a Battle Flight Climb at Duxford.
12 Oct	LAC	HIRSCHBERG, JOHN	He was serving as a Fitter (Aero Engine) with 'D' Flight, Khartoum and died from Malaria and is buried in Khartoum War Cemetery.
15 Oct	Stf Chap	HALL, The Rev RICHARD OBE	He was serving as Chaplain at the Armament & Gunnery School when he died, cause unknown, at the Westminster Hospital.
20 Oct	Fg Off	RUMFITT, WILLIAM HARRY OSBORNE	He was killed whilst flying an unidentified Fairey IIID of the RAF Training Base Leuchars. He was carrying out a gliding turn, when he went into a spin from which he almost recovered but then he entered another spin from he failed to recover. His crew members, AC F W Thompson and AC H W Furniss were uninjured.
20 Oct	AC	TOMLINSON, FRANCIS WILLIAM	He died in Dundee Infirmary from injuries sustained earlier in the day whilst flying in an unidentified Fairey IIID of the RAF Training Base Leuchars flown by Fg Off W H O Rumfitt.
21 Oct	AC1	DAVIS, JAMES ALBERT	He was serving as a Clerk (GD) at AHQ Iraq and died in the General Hospital at Hinaidi, cause unknown, he is buried in Ma'asker Al Raschid RAF Cemetery.
23 Oct	Sqn Ldr	BAYLEY, LEONARD JOSEPH ST GEORGE MC	He had recently been posted to RAF Northolt when he was involved in head-on collision with a lorry near Rickmansworth and died from his injuries in Watford Peace Memorial Hospital, Watford.
27 Oct	LAC	HIRSCHBERG, J	He was serving with No 47 Sqn and died in the British Military Hospital, Khartoum from Malaria MT
9 Nov	Fg Off	MACKENZIE RICHARDS, CAMPBELL	He was killed whilst flying Bristol F2B, C810 of the RAE, which ran out of fuel near East Grinstead whilst carrying out development work on the Davis Landing Light. Unable to find a suitable place to make an emergency landing, he waited until his passenger had exited the aircraft by parachute before jumping, by which time he was too low.
19 Nov	Sgt	COLE, ARTHUR ALFRED	He was killed whilst flying an unidentified DH9A of No 84 Sqn, spun into the ground at low altitude and was destroyed by fire and exploding bombs, he is buried in Basra (Makina) RAF Cemetery.
19 Nov	AC1	CONLON, PATRICK	He was serving as a Carpenter Rigger and was killed whilst flying in an unidentified DH9A of No 84 Sqn, spun into the ground at low altitude and was destroyed by fire and exploding bombs, he is buried in Basra (Makina) RAF Cemetery.
1 Dec	LAC	BUTLER, JAMES LEWIS	He died in the Citadel Military Hospital in Cairo whilst serving as a Aircrafthand at HQ RAF Middle East from Septicaemia and is buried in Cairo New British Protestant Cemetery.
3 Dec	Fg Off	WHELAN, ROBERT DARLEY	He was killed in a flying accident at Enfield flying Fox, J7941 of No 12 Sqn, which crashed into trees in fog whilst coming into land.
3 Dec	AC2	LACY, HENRY ARTHUR	An Aircrafthand, he was killed in a flying accident at Enfield whilst flying as the aerial gunner in Fox, J7941 of No 12 Sqn, piloted by Fg Off R D Whelan, which crashed into trees in fog whilst coming into land.
3 Dec	Flt Sgt	THOMASON, WILLIAM	He was serving as a Fabric Worker at the Home Aircraft Depot when he died in the RAF Hospital, Halton from sacro septicaemia.
4 Dec	Flt Sgt	SYDENHAM, WALTER HENRY	A Wireless Operator/Mechanic, he died from a fractured skull sustained in a fall from a horse whilst serving at the Aircraft Depot, Iraq and is buried in Ma'asker Al Raschid RAF Cemetery.
10 Dec	Fg Off	ROWE, ALEXANDER MEREDITH RAFO	He died, cause unknown, at the National Hospital, Holborn.
10 Dec	LAC	FRENCH, RONALD JOHN (354791)	He was serving in Hong Kong and was killed when he was thrown from a motor cycle combination on Prince Edward's Road, Kowloon.
10 Dec	AC2	HORSFORD, JOHN FRANK (359720)	He was training to be a Wireless Operator Mechanic at the Electrical and Wireless School, Flowerdown and died from injuries sustained in a motorcycle accident at Medfield, near Winchester.
12 Dec	Sqn Ldr	WHITTAKER, JOHN TUDOR MC	He was serving as the Officer Commanding, No 28 Sqn when he died in Bombay, cause unknown.
28 Dec	AC2	WATTS, FRANK (356691)	He was serving with No 60 Sqn when he died in a British Military Hospital in India, cause unknown.
30 Dec	AC1	HARTWELL, ALFRED PHILIP	He died in the RAF British Hospital at Hinaidi from typhoid whilst serving as a Driver (Petrol) with No 6 Sqn and is buried in Ma'asker Al Raschid RAF Cemetery.

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This page was last updated on 16/04/23