Fairey Albacore Mk.I X9152 of No.766 Sqn, RN, crashed on Carr House Green Common, Lancashire, on the 22nd October 1943

 

William Thirlaway Sub Lieutenant Pilot Killed
Peter Draper Midshipman Observer Killed
Roy Hardy Freeman Leading Airman Air Gunner Died of Injuries

The crew was on a night training flight from RNAS Inskip between Preston and Blackpool and had taken off from the No.4 runway at approximately 22:30. Shortly after getting airborne and making a turn away from the airfield the aircraft crashed on Carr House Green Common with the engine still producing power. Sub Lieutenant Thirlaway and Midshipman Draper were both killed in the crash while Leading Airman Freeman was severely injured, he died less than four hours later as a result of his injuries.

Two of the three victims were buried in their home towns, Draper (who is recorded on contemporary Naval documents as a Midshipman but by the CWGC as a Sub Lieutenant) was from Withernsea in East Yorkshire while Freeman was from Billingborough in Lincolnshire. Sub Lieutenant Thirlaway was cremated at Blackpool and his ashes returned to his family in Newcastle-upon-Tyne.

Crash site of Fairey Albacore Mk.i X9152 at Carr House Green, Lancashire
The crash site is on common grazing land close to the former airfield, as such very little remains at the crash site. A detailed search with LAIT in 2014 revealed only a few small pieces.
Crash site of Fariey Albacore Mk.I X9152 at Carr House Green, Lancashire
Looking across the crash site in the opposite direction.