Reading the story of the P-40 found in the desert, reminded me of another sad tale I found many years ago, but until recently had lost the site link too.
James Arthur Slater RAF, sadly lost after force landing, but not forgotten by his family..
http://www.slaterweb.co.uk/hero.htm
Read his diary extracts, soo so sad and such a heartbreaking tragic loss. One does wonder if his aircraft is still sitting there.
..
By: H87A-2 - 28th December 2015 at 07:09
Had a quick look at the info I have for this aircraft and it shows the flight to be the 2nd Aug 1944. Unit was 73OTU aircraft a Kittyhawk Ia (P-40E-1).
His death certificate would have been produced before the aircraft (maybe – looking into this now) and pilot where found and therefore will have been dated on the presumed death date of the 2nd Aug 1944. If after the fact someone requested a new Death Certificate then the date would have been amended.
Buz
By: Kuno - 28th December 2015 at 05:04
What is a bt confusing for me: “It was in July, 1944, that 21 year old Flight Sergeant J.A. Slater, of Shrewsbury, was flying the Kittyhawk on a lone patrol over Egypt.”
The death certificate says he presumably died on 2. August 1944
And in his diary he writes on 4. August 1944: “Still alive”
By: trumper - 27th December 2015 at 16:51
🙁 Oh my god what a horrible death.The only good thing to come of it was that his Mum and Dad knew that he was thinking about them until the end R I P .
By: dko - 27th December 2015 at 16:12
Hi Tony,
do you have other information about the pilot James Arthur Slater
because I tried to get in touch with his nephew Terrence Slater but without success!
Thanks Stefano
By: Arabella-Cox - 9th May 2013 at 17:06
Tony
Thank you for posting that extraordinary story.
Terribly sad to read those letters and that diary, but also enlightening, in a way, as to what poor old Dennis Copping endured. What also caught my eye was his reference to distress broadcasts which possibly adds some weight to the theory that Dennis may have tried to use his radio post-landing to send a distress message.
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May 9, 2013 at 2:44 pm