Airspeed Oxford Mk.2 V3910 of No.8 Advanced Flying Training School crashed on Maol an Taillier on the 6th December 1951

Airspeed Oxford at the Royal Air Force Museum, Hendon

 

Peter Drury Acting Pilot Officer Pilot Killed

 

Nineteen year old Acting Pilot Officer Drury from Rotherham in South Yorkshire was a pupil on No.4 Course at 8 Advanced Flying Training School which was stationed at Dalcross near Inverness. On the 6th December 1951 he was to carry out a solo night cross country exercise and took off at 21:45 for the exercise. On returning towards Dalcross at around 23:40 he was instructed from the ground to turn on his Beam Approach radio and descend along the beam back towards the airfield. The ground controller expected him to call passing the Inner Master Beacon and when no call was made the controller called A/P/O Drury and asked for his position, Drury began replying to his before the transmission faded and no further contact was made with him.

Crash site of Airspeed Oxford Mk.2 V3910 on Maol an Taillier, Nairn, Highland
The crash site lies on moorland on the eastern flanks of Maol an Taillier, a low hill to the south of the River Findhorn.

It would not be until the 19th December before the wreckage of V3910 and the body of Peter Drury were located by a shepherd working on the Earl of Cawdor’s estate south of Nairn, and some eleven miles away from Dalcross. Once located a party was sent from Dalcross, and using sixteen men Drury’s body was carried off the moorland by stretcher. He was then later buried in his home town of Rotherham.

Armstrong Siddeley Cheetah engine at the crash site of Airspeed Oxford Mk.2 V3910 on Maol an Taillier, Nairn, Highland
Both of the aircraft’s Armstrong Siddeley Cheetah engines are still at the site, one lying partly buried.

A Court of Inquiry which had been opened when the aircraft disappeared was reopened and the Court concluded that the aircraft had dived into the ground after the pilot had apparently lost control of the aircraft.

Armstrong Siddeley Cheetah engine at the crash site of Airspeed Oxford Mk.2 V3910 on Maol an Taillier, Nairn, Highland
The second engine is a short way down the slope.

At the time of his death A/P/O Drury did not hold an instrument rating and had only eighty hours of total flying experience, most of which was on Airspeed Oxfords, six hours of which was solo night flying.

Armstrong Siddeley Cheetah engine at the crash site of Airspeed Oxford Mk.2 V3910 on Maol an Taillier, Nairn, Highland
The second engine looking down the hill, in the background is a new windfarm access road. At the time of the visit the windfarm was being constructed and the road was busy with construction traffic.
Crash site of Airspeed Oxford Mk.2 V3910 on Maol an Taillier, Nairn, Highland
Undercarriage and wing spar parts, common to may Oxford crash sites are present at this site.
Crash site of Airspeed Oxford Mk.2 V3910 on Maol an Taillier, Nairn, Highland
Further parts from the wing structure of the aircraft.
Crash site of Airspeed Oxford Mk.2 V3910 on Maol an Taillier, Nairn, Highland
This photograph is looking across the crash site from beside the lower of the two engines. In the foreground are the remains of one of the undercarriage legs.