As part of researching our family tree, I am trying to find details of a crash in which my cousin (Aircraftman 1st Class, Wireless Op/ Airgunner) Basil Norman Blades was killed.
He was stationed at RAF Leuchars, and I believe had just converted from Anson’s to Hudson’s. They were all killed on October 10th 1939, flying into a hillside in atrocious weather, when returning from a recon mission along the Norwegian Coast. I remember being told by my uncle when I was a small boy that they had tangled with a German surface vessel near the Norwegian Coast,and that some of the crew were wounded. I have managed to deduce that the pilot and navigator were a Pilot Officer WE Lockley, and Flying Officer CH Clark, but cannot find the name of the fourth crew member I am trying to find out 1. The crash location, 2. The name of the fourth crew member, 3. Any further details of their operation. If anyone could help in this matter, or point me in the right direction, I would be very gratefull, as their are no family members of the period left to ask.
Regards
yorky19
By: Arabella-Cox - 4th February 2008 at 15:28
233 Squadron Hudson Crash
Ross
Thank you very much for your post, I am eternally grateful, as this puts the finishing pieces to the jigsaw for me.
Kind Regards
Tony Blades
(yorky19)
By: Ross_McNeill - 4th February 2008 at 10:50
Hi,
233 Sqn
Hudson I
N7227
Coded ZS-Y
F/O C H Clark
P/O W E Lockley
AC1 B N Blades
AC2 W M Cochrane
Op: Patrol, RAF Leuchars, Took off 14:20 hrs
The Hudson was flying very low as the visibility was poor with a low cloud base and it struck high ground at 19:40 hrs, 1.5 miles south of Freuchie, Fife, when returning from patrol. Fire broke out immediately and the wreckage was distributed over a large area. The crew of four were killed instantly.
From RAF Coastal Command Losses, Vol 1 1939-41
Regards
Ross
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February 4, 2008 at 10:40 am