Trafford

Attended Springfield Rd School, Sale and Altrincham Grammar School.    
Employed as a Clerk in a Manchester Store.   He had a keen interest in
aeroplanes, his hobby was making model aircraft.   He was also a keen
cyclist and a friend of Pilot Officer Tomas Hampson, who was also lost on
active service.

He joined the RAFVR at the outbreak of war and became a Wireless
Operator/Air Gunner, eventually serving in Coastal Command.

Flying with 48 Sqn, he took off from RAF Stornoway, Hebrides, on a 'NAVEX'
(navigation training exercise) in a Hudson Mk 3 - No. V9104 - OY.  They
were also carrying three ground crew.  The a/c stalled as they were
approaching RAF Odiham, Hampshire and spun into the ground, catching fire
at 17.40 hrs.  The Court of Inquiry found that the pilot did a tight turn
to avoid losing sight of the airfield.  The other two crew members - F/O
C.E. Dewar;  F/O K.G. Smith and the ground crew - Flt/Sgt F. Hyde;  LAC
W.C. Brooks and F/Sgt L.A. Birkett were all killed.

Buried 01/10/1941 - Burial No. 23409.      Grave purchased by William
Clethero.     Photo in the local newspaper.

In September 1938 48 Sqn moved to Eastchurch to become a general
reconnaissance unit moving to Thorney Island a few days before the outbreak
of WW2.  The Squadron began flying anti-submarine patrols and maintained
anti-E-Boat patrols during the evacuation of Dunkirk.  In July 1940, the
Squadron moved to Mersyside to carry on with anti-submarine patrols and in
July 1941 it was moved to Shetland where conversion to Hudsons took place. 
The Squadron undertook shipping patrols and strikes on enemy craft off the
Norwegian coast.  In December 1942 the Squadron was again moved, this time
to Gibraltar for patrols over the approaches to the Mediterranean.