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.

