410499, Flying Officer James Ian Kidgell
Royal Australian Air Force
Died age 23
Son of James Ernest and Constance Mabel Kidgell, of Moyhu, Victoria, Australia.
Also Comrade to Flying Officer Ernest Douglas Woods
They made the ultimate sacrifice together following air operations on the November 21st 1944 Dunmow England Essex. The pilot and crew were aboard the LK276 Sterling and released the glider P-F573 Horsa. The glider landed safley,the Sterling Crashed after hitting some Willow trees and collided with some power H/T cables. The aircraft then skidded along a bank and exploded at Puildings Farm. The board of enquiry blamed the pilot for failing to monitor his altimeter. The complete crew were killed in the crash.
observations of a dozen eye witnesses who corroborated the details of the enemy aircraft which shot the Stirling down as it was training at night to land a glider in the invasion of Berlin. The inquest was rudimentary and no witnesses were called. This is now thought to be because public morale was fragile and knowing that Radar was not giving ultimate protection would be detrimental to it. Merna spent many years establishing the details of the crash because her husband's twin brother was the pilot and had been saddled with the blame for the 'accident.
Comrades:
Ronald David Payne
William Walter Brain D'arcy
Arthur George Reid
Hugh Holt
Reginald Matthew Dauncey
Royal Australian Air Force
Died age 23
Son of James Ernest and Constance Mabel Kidgell, of Moyhu, Victoria, Australia.
Also Comrade to Flying Officer Ernest Douglas Woods
They made the ultimate sacrifice together following air operations on the November 21st 1944 Dunmow England Essex. The pilot and crew were aboard the LK276 Sterling and released the glider P-F573 Horsa. The glider landed safley,the Sterling Crashed after hitting some Willow trees and collided with some power H/T cables. The aircraft then skidded along a bank and exploded at Puildings Farm. The board of enquiry blamed the pilot for failing to monitor his altimeter. The complete crew were killed in the crash.
observations of a dozen eye witnesses who corroborated the details of the enemy aircraft which shot the Stirling down as it was training at night to land a glider in the invasion of Berlin. The inquest was rudimentary and no witnesses were called. This is now thought to be because public morale was fragile and knowing that Radar was not giving ultimate protection would be detrimental to it. Merna spent many years establishing the details of the crash because her husband's twin brother was the pilot and had been saddled with the blame for the 'accident.
Comrades:
Ronald David Payne
William Walter Brain D'arcy
Arthur George Reid
Hugh Holt
Reginald Matthew Dauncey
410499, Flying Officer James Ian Kidgell
Royal Australian Air Force
Died age 23
Son of James Ernest and Constance Mabel Kidgell, of Moyhu, Victoria, Australia.
Also Comrade to Flying Officer Ernest Douglas Woods
They made the ultimate sacrifice together following air operations on the November 21st 1944 Dunmow England Essex. The pilot and crew were aboard the LK276 Sterling and released the glider P-F573 Horsa. The glider landed safley,the Sterling Crashed after hitting some Willow trees and collided with some power H/T cables. The aircraft then skidded along a bank and exploded at Puildings Farm. The board of enquiry blamed the pilot for failing to monitor his altimeter. The complete crew were killed in the crash.
observations of a dozen eye witnesses who corroborated the details of the enemy aircraft which shot the Stirling down as it was training at night to land a glider in the invasion of Berlin. The inquest was rudimentary and no witnesses were called. This is now thought to be because public morale was fragile and knowing that Radar was not giving ultimate protection would be detrimental to it. Merna spent many years establishing the details of the crash because her husband's twin brother was the pilot and had been saddled with the blame for the 'accident.
Comrades:
Ronald David Payne
William Walter Brain D'arcy
Arthur George Reid
Hugh Holt
Reginald Matthew Dauncey
Royal Australian Air Force
Died age 23
Son of James Ernest and Constance Mabel Kidgell, of Moyhu, Victoria, Australia.
Also Comrade to Flying Officer Ernest Douglas Woods
They made the ultimate sacrifice together following air operations on the November 21st 1944 Dunmow England Essex. The pilot and crew were aboard the LK276 Sterling and released the glider P-F573 Horsa. The glider landed safley,the Sterling Crashed after hitting some Willow trees and collided with some power H/T cables. The aircraft then skidded along a bank and exploded at Puildings Farm. The board of enquiry blamed the pilot for failing to monitor his altimeter. The complete crew were killed in the crash.
observations of a dozen eye witnesses who corroborated the details of the enemy aircraft which shot the Stirling down as it was training at night to land a glider in the invasion of Berlin. The inquest was rudimentary and no witnesses were called. This is now thought to be because public morale was fragile and knowing that Radar was not giving ultimate protection would be detrimental to it. Merna spent many years establishing the details of the crash because her husband's twin brother was the pilot and had been saddled with the blame for the 'accident.
Comrades:
Ronald David Payne
William Walter Brain D'arcy
Arthur George Reid
Hugh Holt
Reginald Matthew Dauncey
Gravesite Details
Many thanks to the Air crew rememberance society and Kelvin Youngs for giving permission to use their Images..Aircrewremembrancesociety.com
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