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| Date: | Saturday 16 September 1944 |
| Time: | 00:55 LT |
| Type: |  Vickers Wellington Mk X |
| Owner/operator: | 21 OTU RAF |
| Registration: | LN771 |
| MSN: | |
| Fatalities: | Fatalities: 1 / Occupants: 4 |
| Other fatalities: | 0 |
| Aircraft damage: | Destroyed |
| Location: | RAF Enstone, Oxfordhsire -
 United Kingdom
|
| Phase: | Take off |
| Nature: | Military |
| Departure airport: | RAF Enstone, Oxfordshire |
16th September 1944: At 00.55 Vickers Wellington LN771 with an instructor and pupil crew were signalled to take off from RAF Enstone at the same time as Wellington LN429 had been given permission to land. A collision occurred on the airfield and both aircraft caught fire and were destroyed after the crews had evacuated. The Wireless Opertor/Air Gunner from LN771 managed to escape as both aircraft caught fire.
However the Wireless Operator/Air Gunner, Sergeant Nevil Luker, 20, unfortunately died later from complications brought about by smoke inhalation. The accident was caused by a failure by the airfield controller. Disciplinary action was taken against the airfield controller for allowing the situation to happen.
Crew:-
Pilot : Flying Officer Peter James Temple MBE RAF 139575 (NCO:1266637 : Commission Gazetted Tuesday 23 March, 1943) [Injured]
Wireless Operator : Sergeant Nevil Ralph Luker RAFVR 1812113 [Fatal Injury]
Flight Sergeant J C Ladd RAF [Injured]
Sources:
1. http://www.rafcommands.com/forum/showthread.php?17088-440916-Unaccounted-Airmen-16-9-1944&s=194662f745f96ddb3cfb45b1dacc2b4a&p=100357#post100357
2. http://www.chippingnortonbritishlegion.com/wartime-plane-crashes-around-chipping-norton.php
3. http://www.wellingtonaviation.org/history/docs/44.2.htm
4. http://www.enstoneflyingclub.co.uk/pwpcontrol.php?pwpID=519
5. Rob Davis Bomber Command Losses Database http://robdavistelford.co.uk/webspace/raf_bc
Revision history:
| Date/time | Contributor | Updates |
|---|---|---|
| 20-Apr-2017 23:04 | Dr.John Smith | Added |
| 27-Nov-2018 19:34 | Nepa | Updated [Time, Operator, Operator, ] |
| 29-Mar-2025 07:00 | Rob Davis | Updated [Source, Narrative, ] |
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