Pilot Officer ALFRED BAILEY, R.A.F. 40976, Pilot Officer, Royal Air Force Age 26 Died 1.8.1940. No 22 Squadron based at RAF Gosport, was engaged in flying a Vickers Vildebeeste aircraft on 1st of August 1940. With him were 977714 Aircraftsman Class 2 E.S Budd and a civilian scientist named Harry Dawson. The aircraft, K6408, part of the Torpedo Development Flight, was scheduled to drop a torpedo on the range off Stokes Bay and then return to the airfield at Gosport less than a mile away. P/O Bailey approached the range, adjusting his altitude for the optimum height of 50 feet above the waves.
Observers on Ryde Pier noted that the aircraft's nose suddenly dipped, whether as a result of the gusty wind is not known but, with no height to recover, the Vildebeeste crashed into the sea. As with all torpedo drops, the range was policed by various support boats. These boats immediately went to the aid of the sinking aircraft. A/C2 Budd was rescued from the sea and although badly injured, after hospitalisation he recovered. A/C2 Budd was the only member the aircraft's crew to survive.
22 Squadron, RAF, Aged 26
The civilian scientist and Pilot Officer Alfred Bailey were dragged to the seabed with the aircraft, and were not recovered until 4 days later. The wreckage of the machine was located by divers, and hauled to the surface. The bodies of the two unfortunate men were at last recovered from the mangled wreckage when the salvage vessel moored up at Priddys Hard.P/O Alfred Bailey, R.A.F., was buried on the 7th of August 1940 at Ann's Hill Cemetery, and is laid to rest in the War Graves Section.
Observers on Ryde Pier noted that the aircraft's nose suddenly dipped, whether as a result of the gusty wind is not known but, with no height to recover, the Vildebeeste crashed into the sea. As with all torpedo drops, the range was policed by various support boats. These boats immediately went to the aid of the sinking aircraft. A/C2 Budd was rescued from the sea and although badly injured, after hospitalisation he recovered. A/C2 Budd was the only member the aircraft's crew to survive.
22 Squadron, RAF, Aged 26
The civilian scientist and Pilot Officer Alfred Bailey were dragged to the seabed with the aircraft, and were not recovered until 4 days later. The wreckage of the machine was located by divers, and hauled to the surface. The bodies of the two unfortunate men were at last recovered from the mangled wreckage when the salvage vessel moored up at Priddys Hard.P/O Alfred Bailey, R.A.F., was buried on the 7th of August 1940 at Ann's Hill Cemetery, and is laid to rest in the War Graves Section.
Pilot Officer ALFRED BAILEY, R.A.F. 40976, Pilot Officer, Royal Air Force Age 26 Died 1.8.1940. No 22 Squadron based at RAF Gosport, was engaged in flying a Vickers Vildebeeste aircraft on 1st of August 1940. With him were 977714 Aircraftsman Class 2 E.S Budd and a civilian scientist named Harry Dawson. The aircraft, K6408, part of the Torpedo Development Flight, was scheduled to drop a torpedo on the range off Stokes Bay and then return to the airfield at Gosport less than a mile away. P/O Bailey approached the range, adjusting his altitude for the optimum height of 50 feet above the waves.
Observers on Ryde Pier noted that the aircraft's nose suddenly dipped, whether as a result of the gusty wind is not known but, with no height to recover, the Vildebeeste crashed into the sea. As with all torpedo drops, the range was policed by various support boats. These boats immediately went to the aid of the sinking aircraft. A/C2 Budd was rescued from the sea and although badly injured, after hospitalisation he recovered. A/C2 Budd was the only member the aircraft's crew to survive.
22 Squadron, RAF, Aged 26
The civilian scientist and Pilot Officer Alfred Bailey were dragged to the seabed with the aircraft, and were not recovered until 4 days later. The wreckage of the machine was located by divers, and hauled to the surface. The bodies of the two unfortunate men were at last recovered from the mangled wreckage when the salvage vessel moored up at Priddys Hard.P/O Alfred Bailey, R.A.F., was buried on the 7th of August 1940 at Ann's Hill Cemetery, and is laid to rest in the War Graves Section.
Observers on Ryde Pier noted that the aircraft's nose suddenly dipped, whether as a result of the gusty wind is not known but, with no height to recover, the Vildebeeste crashed into the sea. As with all torpedo drops, the range was policed by various support boats. These boats immediately went to the aid of the sinking aircraft. A/C2 Budd was rescued from the sea and although badly injured, after hospitalisation he recovered. A/C2 Budd was the only member the aircraft's crew to survive.
22 Squadron, RAF, Aged 26
The civilian scientist and Pilot Officer Alfred Bailey were dragged to the seabed with the aircraft, and were not recovered until 4 days later. The wreckage of the machine was located by divers, and hauled to the surface. The bodies of the two unfortunate men were at last recovered from the mangled wreckage when the salvage vessel moored up at Priddys Hard.P/O Alfred Bailey, R.A.F., was buried on the 7th of August 1940 at Ann's Hill Cemetery, and is laid to rest in the War Graves Section.
Gravesite Details
Pilot Officer (Pilot), Royal Air Force. Age: Unknown.
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