502 Sdn pilot…information request

Ross McNeill’s Coastal Command Losses will have the details for you. I don’t have a copy yet but I’m sure there are others here that do.

If not, a request on www.rafcommands.com should get a result as Ross runs that site.

Regards,

kev35

If it helps, his Service Number was 90037. The London Gazette has the following….

LG Issue 34304 14/7/36 page 23.
RAF Special Reserve, General Duties Branch.
John Randle Garrett is granted a commission as Pilot Off icer on probation. 12/6/1936.

LG Issue 34428 20/8/37 page 6.
Special Reserve, General Duties Branch.
The undermentioned relinquish their commissions on 1st July 1937 consequent to the conversion of No 502 (Ulster) (Bomber) Squadron from Special Reserve to an Auxiliary Air Force Squadron.
P/O Garrett is one of the undermentioned Officers.

LG Issue 34495 22/3/1938 page 8.
Auxiliary Air Force, General Duties Branch. No. 502 (Ulster) (Bomber) Squadron.
Pilot Officer John Randle Garrett is promoted to the rank of Flying Officer. 1st February 1938.

LG Issue 35158 9/5/41.
Auxiliary Air Force.
Flying Officer John Randle Garrett (90037) is promoted to the war substantive rank of Flight Lieutenant. 3rd September 1940.

I can’t find anything else in the London Gazette but I would have thought there might have been mention of his leaving the service?

There is also a very brief mention of him in Flight Magazine stating that he was wounded. I think the issue was 18th April 1940. There were no further details.

Regards,

kev35

The only one i can find in coastal command losses, 19 January 1940.
502 sdn Anson 1 N5050 YG-B. convoy escort. Base Hooton Park
F/O Garrett injured
Sgt H C Mooorby killed
Ac1 R Beattie injured
LAC T C McClure injured.

Lost control in snow storm and the anson spun onto the foreshore at 09.00hrs some 4 miles east of Rhyl.

Dave

Just to add to the previous post, it appears that the three crew members flying with F/O Garrett were killed in the crash and all have the same date of death, 19th January 1940.

So apart from F/O Garrett, the crew details, as traced through Geoff Sullivan’s search engine and the CWGC, are as follows.

816074 Sgt. Harold Christopher Moorby. He was the Observer and is buried at Knockbreda Cemetery, County Down.

521868 AC1 Robert Beattie. He was a Wireless Operator Air Gunner and he was 29 years of age. Son of Thomas and Minnie Beattie, husband of Jane Agnes Beattie of Drummore. He is buried in Kirkmaiden Cemetery which is located adjacent to the Parish Church of Drummore.

816021 LAC Thomas Christopher McClure. He was an Air Gunner and was 24 years of age. He was the son of Thomas and Jane McClure of Belfast. He is buried in Belfast City Cemetery.

I also found this link which may be of interest. http://www.bbc.co.uk/wales/northeast/sites/askalocal/pages/wwii19.shtml

Regards,

kev35

Kev35 and G-ASEA many thanks for the information.

My friend and his mother really appreciate the information to help fill in the detals of his RAF service.

Garrett’s grandson is takling flying lessons and now wants to visit one of the western Canadian museums to view an Anson in person.

Kev35 and G-ASEA many thanks for the information.

My friend and his mother really appreciate the information to help fill in the detals of his RAF service.

Garrett’s grandson is takling flying lessons and now wants to visit one of the western Canadian museums to view an Anson in person.

Taken from “Flying the Red Hand” The History of 502 (Ulster) Squadron Royal Auxiliary Air Force. By Ron Parsons & Alan Watson.

“On the morning of the 19th January 1940 Avro Anson N5050 ‘YG-B’ crashed on the foreshore near the north Wales seaside resort of Rhyl during a snowstorm, just an hour after taking off from Hooton Park. The pilot, Flying Officer Randall Garrett, a pre-war member of 502, having been awarded his wings in November 1937 was seriously injured. His Observer, 31 year old Sergeant Harold Moorby from Belfast, another pre-war member of 502, lost his life. 24 year old LAC Air Gunner Thomas McClure also from Belfast and Wireless Operator AC1 Robert Beattie, a 29 year old Scot from Wigtown, died a short time later from their injuries. Along with AC2 Wilfred Crossland, who had been killed the previous day when he accidentally walked into the rotating propellor of the port engine on the same aircraft, these gentlemen were the first casualties on war service with the squadron.”

Ron Parsons the primary author of the book sadly died with the book only 90% complete. However even in its acknowledged incomplete state the book is an excellent history of the squadron.

Please note I have made a couple of alterations to the text, only to to allow me to compress it slightly.

WF

502 Sdn Photo

His family just sent me photo of Garrett flying K8764 before his squadron switched to Ansons.

Can anyone tell us the type, time frame and history of the planes?

The aircraft are Hawker Hind’s and the Squadron was operating the type between April 1937 and January 1939. The Squadron was stationed at Aldergrove. Someone with access to the ‘K’ Files should be able to give you the individual histories.

Hope this helps.

Regards,

kev35

Thanks…I thought it was a Hawker, but wasn’t sure of the type.

Six minutes for a reply…FlyPast Forum does it again.

The aircraft is actually K6764 and the photograph must be between 09.04.37 and 14.11.37 as from the K File

07.04.37 Delivered to 502 Squadron
30.03.39 To 8 MU
21.06.40 To 47MU
18.08.40 to RNZAF but lost at sea

Rear aircraft is K6763

07.04.37 Delivered to 502 Squadron
14.11.37 Undershot approach and hit radio mast; crashed Aldegrove 1 killed
05.01.38 SCO (92 hours on airframe)

Lead aircraft appears to be K6766

09.04.37 Delivered to 502 Squadron
03.04.39 to 8 MU
25.07.40 to RAFC
01.11.40 to 1 FTS
17.11.40 overturned at Staverton
02.02.41 30 MU
11.06.41 1 FTS
11.01.42 4 MU
30.04.43 SOC (587.55 hours)

Kev35 and Thunderbird167, Thank you.

Thomas Christopher McClure

Hi Scarlet69,

I work on the reformed 502 Squadron in Northern Ireland and we are researching ex-Sqn members to educate our Part Time Volunteers on those who have gone before them.  We are interested in contacting family members who can help in anyway.  Would you be able to help with Thomas McClure?

Many thanks, Tom

Caernarfon Air World Museum.

Hi JB,
There used to be the remains of the back end of an Anson at Caernarvon Air World. (The Museum At Old RAF Landwrog Airfield), it was mounted up on a wall diorama of a Crash in WW2, but I’m almost sure that Anson crashed in Snowdonia (Mountains ).

Bill T.

Hi there,
I did not get a reply after sending you the pictures, were they any use.

I asked my friend (the grandson of FO Garrett) to contact you.
I’m sorry he didn’t…I apologize.
I’ll try to contact him and ask him.

hi

Hi there,
I did not get a reply after sending you the pictures, were they any use.

PM sent.

Thanks for the reply, I’ve given your contact information to my friend, the grandson of FO Garrett.

I’m sure he’ll be in touch and would greatly appreciate any information or photos you’d like to share.

Thanks again.

Thomas Christopher McClure

Hi,

I have just come across your post, and I am most interested about this.

I am related to Thomas Christopher McClure, he was my Grandmothers brother.

I have read about Randall Garret, and I am keen to find out more about this whole unfortuate event, I would like to if posible visit the site as I know the area quite well.

I have some pictures of some airmen standing in front of a plane and it would be great to try and put some ames to the faces. I am sure that I ahve a similar picture of some planes being flown, like the one that has been posted on here.

I will post these

Drop me a line if you can.

cheers

Jonathan