Martin Baltimore Mk.I AG689 of the Empire Central Flying School, crashed shortly after take off from Rednal Airfield near Oswestry at Tedsmore Hall on the 16th September 1944
Frederick William Westley AFC | Squadron Leader | Pilot | Survived |
David Scott Sherman Wilkerson | Wing Commander | Passenger | Killed |
A. Packard | Lieutenant Commander, USN | Passenger | Survived |
Richard Henry Cram Jeffery | Squadron Leader, RCAF | Passenger | Survived |
James Wilfred Cross | Major, SAAF | Passenger | Killed |
The five officers were all attached to No.9 Course at the Empire Central Flying School at RAF Hullavington, which had started on the 24th August 1944, where officers from the UK, Commonwealth and USA were being brought together to develop new approaches in aircrew training, as well as being taught those things already found during earlier courses. The five pilots had flown to RAF Rednal, and it was shortly after taking off after concluding their visit when their aircraft developed a problem and crashed causing the deaths of two of those onboard.