Hi all. I’m new to the forum so thanks for the add!..:) I’ve been trying to gather information/photos on a crash that occurred on 16 september 1943 not far from where I live involving an RAF Lockheed Hudson serial number AM885. All three airmen lost their lives. Pilot F/Sgt John COLHOUN 657975, Pilot F/Sgt Pryce OWEN 655407 and Navigator F/Sgt Alexander James CHABARRA R/131724 + RCAF.
I am looking for photos of John Colhoun(Paisley, Scotland) and Pryce Owen(Penygroes, Wales) or any group photo that may exist of the three men. Also a photo of the Hudson P8825 which was assigned to number 301 Ferry Training Unit, based at RAF Lyneham in Wiltshire. Chabara sailed to Europe in March 1943 and was posted to number 1 (Coastal) Operational Training Unit ((C)OTU) in June 1943. This unit was based at RAF Thornaby in Yorkshire. The three airmen may have formed a new training crew at this location and may have been in training together to form a future frontline crew together.
Can anyone point me in the right direction?RAF/ Military archive perhaps? Many thanks:eagerness:
By: Motivlack - 3rd February 2017 at 15:27
Hi Dennis. Just see your reply now. Many thanks for all your help. I’ll keep digging. I’m sure I’m covering ground you have already..ps didnt get Tonys second name?
By: dp_burke - 31st January 2017 at 23:53
“He lives , or lived , in Newtownabbey in County Antrim and should really be your first port of call for any help . “
I would hope that anyone with an Irish aviation query might put Tony or myself or any of the other active Irish historians at the top of their lists in 2017.
By: dp_burke - 31st January 2017 at 17:04
Motivlack, I have replied to your question on rafcommands.com, I don’t know if you have contacted me via email in the past.
My website, formerly on skynet.ie is offline and I will be relauncing on a new domain this week hopefully.
The P.8825 quoted in the Irish army report you must understand was probably read from a burned out hole in a field, hence it was recorded incorrectly. The service file of Chabbara clearly states the aircraft identity.
Please drop me a line via email as directed on rafcommands.com
Are you William Downes?
By: Motivlack - 17th January 2017 at 21:40
The Hudson AM885 was from 301 Ferry Training Unit RAF Lyneham on a fuel consumption test when it crashed at Ballycullane Co. Wexford.
The url you listed does not appear to work or has been removed, I believe it did have a picture of F/Sgt Chabara.
HTH
Tony K
Hi Tony. Yes I have all that info from Dennis Burkes research online. Plus the photo of Sgt Chabara. I am looking for photos of the other two airmen and one of AM885.
By: Tony Kearns - 17th January 2017 at 19:44
The Hudson AM885 was from 301 Ferry Training Unit RAF Lyneham on a fuel consumption test when it crashed at Ballycullane Co. Wexford.
The url you listed does not appear to work or has been removed, I believe it did have a picture of F/Sgt Chabara.
HTH
Tony K
By: Motivlack - 15th January 2017 at 18:38
Thanks again David. I’ll let you know how I get on
By: David Thompson - 15th January 2017 at 17:25
Motivlack
Yes , no problem at all with the Thornaby memorial photos and I await your PM .
Regards a photograph of the Hudson , many years ago ‘Military Aircraft Photographs’ produced copies of the original wartime Real Photgraphs series and it included many obscure types and they do have a vast database . Drop them an email to ; http://www.mapaircraftphotos.com/ .
You could try the Department of Aviation Records at the RAF Museum Hendon who could well pull a rabbit out of a hat or better still a Hudson !
By: Motivlack - 15th January 2017 at 16:41
Thank you David! I really appreciate your offer of a photo of the memorial. I will send you a pm with my email. I would really love a picture of the Scottish and Welsh airmen and one of the plane AM885. I suppose an email to the RAF archives wouldn’t hurt?
By: David Thompson - 13th January 2017 at 10:37
The Hudson gets the briefest of mentions in the book Down In A Free State by John Quinn , assisted by Robert Taylor , self published but printed in Belfast in 1998 , ISBN 0 9525496 5 4 , £8-99 . I know that John was a member , perhaps founding member ? , of the World War II Irish Wreckology Group and produced a series of booklets covering aircraft losses over the whole of Ireland as well as at least two books on the subject . He lives , or lived , in Newtownabbey in County Antrim and should really be your first port of call for any help .
The website link you provided does not work but I found this one which although the Hudson is not listed , may still be of help ? ; http://homepage.eircom.net/~wrgi/ .
Most of the old Thornaby aerodrome site has now been redeveloped for housing and light industrial use although several buildings do still remain as well as a superb memorial and a replica Spitfire mounted on a roundabout close to what was the main runways intersection . If you would like a photograph of these then PM me a contact email address . Good luck !
By: Motivlack - 13th January 2017 at 10:27
Thank you Matt. Yes I have seen the photo and information on AJ Chabarra. There are no other pictures I am aware of online of the two other airmen. Some of the info in that is incorrect saying it crashed in Curraghmore(Waterford?). It crashed in Kinnagh, Wexford. The serial number of the Hudson was AM885 and P.8825 as the planes number in Irish army report. ..so if P8825 is an Airspeed Oxford this must also be incorrect?
By: Beermat - 13th January 2017 at 09:30
Welcome!
Guessing you have seen this? http://www.veterans.gc.ca/eng/remembrance/memorials/canadian-virtual-war-memorial/detail/2690258
You won’t have much luck with RAF crew photos in official archives – but it has happened before that someone on here might have something. You’re in the right place – and no response doesn’t mean anyone’s ignoring your post!
I have P8825 as an Airspeed Oxford?
Matt
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January 13, 2017 at 1:04 am