ASN Wikibase Occurrence # 221376
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| Date: | Friday 27 April 1917 |
| Time: | day |
| Type: | Maurice Farman S.11 Shorthorn |
| Owner/operator: | 24 (Reserve) Sqn RFC |
| Registration: | A7073 |
| MSN: | |
| Fatalities: | Fatalities: 2 / Occupants: 2 |
| Aircraft damage: | Destroyed |
| Location: | RFC Netheravon, Salisbury Plain, Wiltshire -
 United Kingdom
|
| Phase: | Approach |
| Nature: | Training |
| Departure airport: | RFC Netheravon, Salisbury Plain, Wiltshire |
| RFC Netheravon, Salisbury Plain, Wiltshire | |
| Confidence Rating: |  Information is only available from news, social media or unofficial sources |
27.4.17: Maurice Farman S.11 Shorthorn A7073, 24 (Reserve) Squadron, RFC Netheravon. Written off (destroyed) when stalled and nose dived on approach, RFC Netheravon, Salisbury Plain, Wiltshire. Both crew - Sgt-Major Harold Cecil Smith (Service Number 1448, aged 22) and Sgt Joseph Chetwood (Service Number 3299, aged 24) - were killed. According to the aircraft accident record card for Maurice Farman S.11 Shorthorn A7073
"Court of Inquiry 87/7954
3/5/17
Flying accident. Probably stalled and side slipped. It was the opinion of the Court of Inquiry that the accident was caused by an error of judgment on the part of the pilot, in that the machine stalled whilst spiralling down."
According to the following excerpt from the Inquest into the deaths of the two crew (see link #7)
"Smith, Harold C and Chetwood, Joseph
1917 May 4th
Netheravon
Aviator’s Deaths
Mr F H Trethowan, the Coroner for South Wilts, inquired at the Military Hospital, Netheravon, on Saturday, touching the deaths of Sergt-Major Smith, of London, and Sergt Chetwood (whose home was in Shropshire), by a mishap to a flying machine on the previous day.
Second-Lieutenant W L Wells said he heard of the accident, and on flying to the scene found both men, apparently dead. With a chum he had flown for seventy minutes in the same machine on the previous evening, and it was then in perfect order.
Lieutenant Sparks, who also flew to the spot, which was near Figheldean, corroborated.
Lieutenant K B Wild told how, when he was flying, he saw the machine fall down from a height of about 800 feet.
Evidence was given showing that the engine and other parts of the machine were in good order before the flight was started.
Captain P L Moore, RAMC, deposed that death was due in both cases to fracture of the skull, and the jury returned a verdict accordingly, stating that injuries were due to falls from an aeroplane."
Sources:
1. http://www.rcawsey.co.uk/Acc1917.htm
2. https://www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/405500/smith,-harold-cecil/
3. https://www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/393766/chetwood,-joseph/
4. http://www.rafmuseumstoryvault.org.uk/archive/smith-h.c.-harold-cecil
5. http://www.rafmuseumstoryvault.org.uk/archive/chetwood-j.-joseph
6. https://www.masonicgreatwarproject.org.uk/legend.php?id=540
7. https://salisburyinquests.wordpress.com/1917-2/smith-harold-chetwood-joseph/
Revision history:
| Date/time | Contributor | Updates |
|---|---|---|
| 31-Jan-2019 19:20 | Dr. John Smith | Added |
| 02-Feb-2019 12:09 | stehlik49 | Updated [Operator] |
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