ASN Wikibase Occurrence # 158059
This information is added by users of ASN. Neither ASN nor the Flight Safety Foundation are responsible for the completeness or correctness of this information.
If you feel this information is incomplete or incorrect, you can submit corrected information.
| Date: | Wednesday 22 December 1943 |
| Time: | 10:50 |
| Type: |  Supermarine Spitfire Mk Vb |
| Owner/operator: | 485 (NZ) Sqn RAF |
| Registration: | BL634 |
| MSN: | |
| Fatalities: | Fatalities: 1 / Occupants: 1 |
| Aircraft damage: | Destroyed |
| Location: | North Sea, off St Abbs Head, Scotland -
 United Kingdom
|
| Phase: | Unknown |
| Nature: | Training |
| Departure airport: | RAF Drem, East Lothian |
| RAF Drem |
No. 485 (New Zealand) Squadron, RAF was being rested from operations by a stint at Drem in East Lothian.
The squadron was normally equipped with Spitfire Mark IXs but was flying Mark Vs for the duration of their stay in Scotland.
On the morning of the 22nd of December,1943, the unit's planes were taking part in a naval co-operation exercise. This activity probably involved making dummy attacks on ships in order to give their anti-aircraft gunners practice in training their weapons on fast, and close-in, attacking aircraft.
One of the Spitfires failed to recover in time from a low-level pass and its propeller blades struck the surface of the sea, disabling the engine.
The pilot was able to use his surplus speed to pull up to about 1,000 feet and then baled out. He was reported to clear the aircraft at about 500 feet, but his parachute could not deploy fully at such a low height, and he was found to be dead when a ship reached him a short while after.
It is believed that a bulky experimental Anti-G suit (the Franks Flying Suit) he was wearing may have hindered the pilot in exiting the Spitfire in a timely manner.
Flying Officer (NZ404342) John Grant Dasent RNZAF - killed.
R.I.P.
Sources:
http://rnzaf.proboards.com/thread/18045/john-grant-dasent-rnzaf-lost
Spitfire production list.
CWGC
Revision history:
| Date/time | Contributor | Updates |
|---|---|---|
| 07-Aug-2013 06:44 | angels one five | Added |
| 06-Jun-2015 15:35 | Shuntt | Updated [Time, Operator, Phase, Departure airport, Source, Narrative] |
| 24-Jan-2018 13:59 | angels one five | Updated [Narrative] |
| 18-Dec-2019 19:01 | angels one five | Updated [Narrative] |
Corrections or additions? ... Edit this accident description
The Aviation Safety Network is an exclusive service provided by:
Quick Links:
| ASN Home | Send Correction / Feedback |
| FSF Home | Disclaimer | Copyright |
| Contact Us | Privacy Policy |
| Press / Media |
CONNECT WITH US:
©2024 Flight Safety Foundation