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Searles, Charles Frederick (Pilot Officer)

Killed in Flying Accident 1944-July-08

Male Head

Birth Date: 1920 (age 24)

EDWARD CHARLES AND DAISY MAUD SEARLES, OF THORNTON HEATH.

Service
RAFVR
Unit
17 (OT) OTU- Operational Training Unit (RAF)
Base
RAF Turweston
Rank
Pilot Officer
Marshal
Air Chief MarshalA/C/M
Air MarshalA/M
Air Vice MarshalA/V/M
Air CommodoreA/C
Group CaptainG/C
Wing CommanderW/C
Squadron LeaderS/L
Flight LieutenantF/L
Flying OfficerF/O
Pilot OfficerP/O
Warrant Officer 1st ClassWO1
Warrant Officer 2nd ClassWO2
Flight SergeantFS
SergeantSGT
CorporalCPL
Senior AircraftmanSAC
Leading AircraftmanLAC
Aircraftman 1st ClassAC1
Aircraftman 2nd ClassAC2
Position
Pilot
Service Numbers
172964

Wellington Mk. lll BK272

Operational 1944-July-08 to 1944-July-08

(OT) OTU (RAF) RAF Turweston

#17 Operational Training Unit’s Vickers Wellington (BK272) took flight in the late evening of 7 Jul 1944 from RAF Turweston on a night training exercise. Early in the morning of July 8th the Wellington collided in mid-air with another #17 OTU Wellington lll (HE325) and crashed near Westbury in Buckinghamshire, taking the lives of the seven airmen on board. Six aircrew of the other aircraft, HE325, also perished when their Wellington crashed

Killed included Pilot Officer Arthur Corck: Flying Officer Walter Haraczay RCAF J/29418 KIA Brookwood Military Cemetery grave 52. D. 1. Sergeant Robert Fred Bradford RAF KIA Edmonton Cemetery, Middlesex Sec. K. Grave 3349. Sergeant Bernard Hadlow RAF KIA St. Vincent Church Littlebourne Row B. Grave 6. Sergeant Jack Benjamin Lemon RAF KIA Stoke Road Cemetery Slough C. of E. Plot. Grave 2866. Pilot Officer Charles Frederick Searles RAF pilot KIA Mitcham Road Cemetery Croydon Plot P.P. Grave 40033. Sergeant Peter John Woods RAF KIA Northampton And Counties Crematorium

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YouTube Collision of BK272 and HE325

Find-A-Grave.com Find a Grave

Wellington BK272

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