Youngest RAF casualty remembered

As always, I’ll happily stand corrected but I seem to recall mentioned in the excellent book “The Thousand Plan” (Ralph Barker, 1965) that there was mention of a 16yo pilot of a Manchester or Stirling…….can anyone confirm, deny, abuse, denigrate or pour Elsan contents on this?

Thomas Dobney

Joined RAF aged 14yrs 3months
awarded wings 15yrs 5months
Flew (I believe) 20 ish operations on AW Whitley bombers before being grounded.

‘Shopped’ by his Father (separated parents) after being photographed meeting the King…the RAF immediately grounded him but told him he could rejoin when old enough.
He later became a Captain on Kings/Queens flight !
He wrote an autobiography but cannot remember the title

Edit…forgot to add link to the Oldest RAF Aircrew casualty (BC),where Thomas D was mentioned
http://forum.keypublishing.co.uk/showthread.php?t=73425&highlight=youngest+raf+pilot

rgds baz

Ross

Thanks for clearing the whole story up..

Paul

Hi Paul,

The crew were from Andover and were landing to collect sparkplugs brought to the aerodrome by car from Hartlebury MU.

Overshot in nil wind conditions and hit a car before collecting the kids sitting on the railings.

No injury to crew but Beryl Patricia Smith killed, her friend Enda Waddell and three others were injured.

Regards
Ross

Another Tragedy, although not RAF personnel, was when Blenheim L4850 of 53 Sqd overshot the grass strip at RAF Worcester, schoolgirl Beryl Patricia Smith was sitting on some railings and was killed when the plane struck her, she was just 16 years old, she too lies in an unmarked grave at Astwood Cemetary.

Ant.

Blenheim the History has a slightly different take on this…

23-05-1940 L4850 53 Squadron Mk IV: Pilot P/O Steuart-Richardson overshot landing in nil wind and hit car at Worcester, killing one occupant and injuring four others.

As always, I’ll happily stand corrected but I seem to recall mentioned in the excellent book “The Thousand Plan” (Ralph Barker, 1965) that there was mention of a 16yo pilot of a Manchester or Stirling…….can anyone confirm, deny, abuse, denigrate or pour Elsan contents on this?

Ant,

I wonder would this be a case for the War graves commision? Dont or Didnt they provide headstones for civilian war casualties?

As far as I know they didn’t, but I have always thought there should have been a headstone, but on the other hand I dont remember if her parents were later buried with her, it then gets more complicated.
I suppose there are thousands of people with unmarked grave’s that deserve one, but thats another story.

Ant.

Ant,

I wonder would this be a case for the War graves commision? Dont or Didnt they provide headstones for civilian war casualties?

Another sad accident in our area was on the 2nd August 1943,
ATC Cadet Raymond Noel Carter Age 16 was killed while hitching a ride in Wellington BK504 from 23 OTU, Pershore. The aircraft crash landed into a wooded area and caught fire.

Another Tragedy, although not RAF personnel, was when Blenheim L4850 of 53 Sqd overshot the grass strip at RAF Worcester, schoolgirl Beryl Patricia Smith was sitting on some railings and was killed when the plane struck her, she was just 16 years old, she too lies in an unmarked grave at Astwood Cemetary.

Ant.

Good for you Tony ! I wish you luck as i know it can be difficult getting these sort of things sorted out after so much time has passed.

I wont say what i think about parents who would let their own squabble get in the way of their own child being properly honoured.

Near me, the youngest flight test observer was killed…he had just turned 16 years old (local ATC lad). His test aircraft (an upkeep modified Lanc) collided with an Oxford during a pressure error run.

He was buried in an unmarked grave (his parents were seperating at the time and apparently argued over the costs)….I plan to right this wrong one day

The Dornier 215 was

24.10.40 Do 215 L2+KS 3/AGobL Crown Inn, Eaton Socon, Beds. Shot Down by Fighters