MOSQUITO DZ642 - 627 Sq ROYL FIELD HILL. 22/11/1944
The Mosquito was one of 3 sent to lay target markers for a squadron of Lancasters that were to bomb U-boat pens at Trondheim, the Mossies had flown from Woodhall Spa to Lossiemouth then after re-fueling they were off to Norway, however for reasons unclear DZ642 did not have its tanks topped up and this would be a contributory factor in its eventual loss later on.
The flight to Norway went without episode but on arrival at Trondheim the target was obscured by smoke screen and so had to be aborted and the aircraft turned for home. By this time DZ642 was having problems with radio transmissions and the two other Mossies had to relay messages, also fuel was now noticed to be very low and so a diversion was made to Shetland with hope of landing at Sumburgh, the Air Sea Rescue were notified at Lerwick just in case they had to ditch, when the other aircraft turned for Peterhead, DZ642 tried to make contact with Sumburgh but reception was very poor and last message was that they were on a heading of 230 degrees, the other two Mossie pilots had heard Sumburgh warning DZ642 that there was high ground in the area of up to 1,000 feet, but this was not acknowledged.
The airwaves eventually went dead and no trace was seen of the Mosquito at Sumburgh or at sea, It was not until 15 days later that 3 shepherds working on Royl Field Hill spotted the wreckage of the aircraft and the two bodies of the Pilot and Navigator, at an investigation by the RAF later it was established that fuel tanks had expired and that the pilot was trying to crashland on the nearest piece of what looked to be flat ground and the aircraft broke up.
Pilot: F/Lt John Alexander Reid. RAF.
Nav: F/O Wesley Douglas Irwin. RCAF.
The flight to Norway went without episode but on arrival at Trondheim the target was obscured by smoke screen and so had to be aborted and the aircraft turned for home. By this time DZ642 was having problems with radio transmissions and the two other Mossies had to relay messages, also fuel was now noticed to be very low and so a diversion was made to Shetland with hope of landing at Sumburgh, the Air Sea Rescue were notified at Lerwick just in case they had to ditch, when the other aircraft turned for Peterhead, DZ642 tried to make contact with Sumburgh but reception was very poor and last message was that they were on a heading of 230 degrees, the other two Mossie pilots had heard Sumburgh warning DZ642 that there was high ground in the area of up to 1,000 feet, but this was not acknowledged.
The airwaves eventually went dead and no trace was seen of the Mosquito at Sumburgh or at sea, It was not until 15 days later that 3 shepherds working on Royl Field Hill spotted the wreckage of the aircraft and the two bodies of the Pilot and Navigator, at an investigation by the RAF later it was established that fuel tanks had expired and that the pilot was trying to crashland on the nearest piece of what looked to be flat ground and the aircraft broke up.
Pilot: F/Lt John Alexander Reid. RAF.
Nav: F/O Wesley Douglas Irwin. RCAF.
F/O Wesley Douglas Irwin. RCAF.
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Main undercarriage leg in 2006 A half buried merlin engine from the Mosquito
Photo: Dave Earl.
Photo: Dave Earl.
Flt Lt John Alexander Reid
Magdalen Hill Cemetery Winchester, Hampshire, |
Flt Lt Wesley Douglas Irwin
City of London Cemetery and Crematorium Newham, |
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