Formites,

Thank you so much for all your help. K8B I think you have provided the most comprehensive account I have read to date and it seems to debunk the ‘ten hospital casualties’ which featured in other accounts. I agree with your theory Lyffe . The best way I have of saying thank you is to follow up your suggestions (Sabrejet’s and Alan Clarke’s especially) and follow up as many leads as I can, then report back with any new information. I would like to balance up the newspaper report with an official version of events and perhaps the AM 1180 card may direct me there, if not the Air 2 file.
Stan was a quiet, unassuming lad. He grew up in a humble terraced house in Winlaton Mill. His parents could just about afford to pay for his grammar school uniform. Ironically he is buried in Blaydon Cemetery on the other side of the road to his old school.Stan joined up and saw action as a Sgt pilot in 1945. How odd that he should have been spared during the War only to die in such an accident.
At any rate Stan will always be a hero to us and we will cherish his memory. On 18 the September we will be at his resting place to honour him and perhaps shed a tear for those of his wartime pals who didn’t make it home.
Once again, on behalf of my family, thanks.

Sorry for being so passe Won’t repeat the exercise.