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Merriman, John B (Civilian)

Killed in Flying Accident 1943-February-09

Birth Date: 1921 (age 22)

Born: Holsworthy, England

Home: Holsworthy, England

Service
RAFBOAC
Unit
45 Group (RAF)
Base
Dorval, Quebec
Rank
Position
Flight Engineer
Service Numbers

Liberator Mk. II AL591

Transport 1943-February-08 to 1943-February-09

45 (T) Group (RAF) Prestwick, Scotland

45 Group RAF Transport Command, Dorval, Quebec. Liberator II aircraft AL591 was engaged in a Return Ferry Service flight, bringing a mix of civilian and military pilots, navigators, radio operators and flight engineers from Prestwick, Scotland to Gander, Newfoundland. The weather conditions were poor at Gander with low visibility due to a severe snow storm, but short on fuel, diverting to another airport was not possible. Sadly, AL591 crashed on approach ten miles north-east of Gander, killing most of those aboard. The weather conditions further hampered search efforts, which could not begin for two after the crash. Amazingly, there were three survivors but one died later in hospital, which meant that nineteen of the twenty-one aboard the aircraft were lost

Flight Sergeant WH Kyle (RCAF), Flying Officer RI Scott (RCAF), American civilian Pilot/Captain FA Dugan, Sergeant JA Elding (RAFVR), British civilian GP Eves, British civilian TR Barnes, Sergeant HL Lewis (RAFVR), American civilian RM Lloyd, Sergeant DJ Owen (RAF), American civilian J Stagner, British Civilian FJ Brown, Canadian civilian F Scrafton, British civilian R Wadsworth, Canadian civilian EG Longley, British civilian JB Merriman, Canadian civilian IW Wilson and a passenger, British Army officer Lieutenant-Colonel LT Grove were killed in this flying accident

Sergeant GP Pollard (RAF), a pilot, had initially survived the crash but succumbed to his injuries and died in hospital 1943-02-11

Captain KE Parker Jr (USA) and Flying Officer CM Ableson (RAF) survived the crash with injuries

Note: no other information has been found to date about these two survivors

The crash of Liberator AL591 1943-02-09 was the largest loss of life at Gander during the entire war

Ocean Bridge, The History of RAF Ferry Command by Carl A Christie pages 317, 391

The Liberator in Royal Air Force and Commonwealth Service by James D Oughton with John Hamlin and Andrew Thomas page 111

North Atlantic Cat by Don McVicar, Chapter 15 pages 106-113

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