1943 RAF Hudson crash

50°24′36.28″N 4°56′37.11″W / 50.4100778°N 4.9436417°W / 50.4100778; -4.9436417AircraftAircraft typeLockheed Hudson IIIAOperator Royal Air ForceFlight originRAF PortreathDestinationRAF GibraltarCrew9^{[citation needed]}Fatalities2Survivors7

The 1943 RAF Hudson crash was an aerial accident that killed two people. The aircraft crashed in a forced landing attempt near RAF St Eval, Cornwall, England, following engine failure.

Aircraft

FH168 was a Lockheed Hudson IIIA (a lend-lease A-29-LO serial no 41-36969 and c/n 414-6458), operated by No. 38 Wing RAF, based at RAF Netheravon. On 19 May 1943, it was en route from RAF St Eval to RAF Gibraltar when it crashed and burned 7 miles (11 km) south of St. Eval. The aircraft was unable to maintain height due to one engine failing, and the load it was carrying.

Casualties

Air Commodore Sir Nigel Norman, on his way to the Middle East for an Airborne Forces Planning Conference, died as a result of the crash. The only other airman killed in the crash was Pilot Officer (Obs) Arthur Rotenberg, who is buried in St Columb Major Cemetery.^[1]

Rescue

The surviving crew and passengers were rescued by two nearby farm workers – William Richards and Eddie Thomas – and a nearby member of the Royal Observer Corps, George Gregory. In 1945, Gregory was awarded the British Empire Medal for his brave actions during the rescue of the crew.^[2]

References

Further reading

• Keith McCloskey (1 November 2012). Airwork: A History. History Press. ISBN 978-0-7524-9459-3.