Airspeed Oxford N6438

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Aircraft Type Photo

BELOW: An Airspeed AS.10 Oxford. This aircraft belonged to the Belgian Air Force (now, Belgian Air Component or COMOPSAIR)

Airspeed AS10 Oxford on display

Photo: 2006. Released by the author under GNU Free Documentation License

Aircraft Type and Background

RAF Airspeed AS.10 Oxford / N6438

Aircraft Type Nickname: "The Ox-Box"

The Airspeed Oxford was developed from the Airspeed AS.6 Envoy commercial aircraft as an RAF trainer. The Oxford was equipped with two 355hp - 375hp seven cylinder air-cooled Armstrong-Siddeley Cheetah IX or X radial engines.

Essentially, this was a 3-seater aircraft, but provision was made for up to 6 crew. The Oxford was equipped with dual controls for pilot training purposes, but these could be removed for bombardier training.

Several other crew training roles were also covered by the Airspeed Oxford, preparing aircrew for entry into RAF Bomber Command.

At least 8 variants of the Airspeed Oxford were produced. In addition to those manufactured by Airspeed Ltd., some of these aircraft were built by sub-contractors such as de-Havilland, Percival, and Standard Motors. The Mark I Oxford was equipped with an Armstrong-Whitworth dorsal turret, but all subsequent variants lacked this feature.

In addition to their role as advanced trainers, Oxfords were used as communications, anti-aircraft, and anti-submarine aircraft; and also as air ambulances.

Aircraft Accident Details

On 3rd September 1942, Airspeed Oxford N6438 of No. 2 Flying Instructor School (2 FIS) struck a hill in low cloud. At present, no other details of this incident are known.

Aircraft Crew Casualties

One airman died in this incident, while the second escaped with injuries. The pilot who died was:

P/O John Keddie

P/O Keddie was buried at Sleepyhillock Cemetery in Montrose, Scotland.

The pilot who escaped with injuries was P/O White.

Crash Site Photos

BELOW: Some of the remaining wreckage from the Airspeed Oxford that crashed at Meluncart in 1942.

wreckage from airspeed oxford crash at meluncart aberdeenshire

This photo appears to include part of the landing gear, tail assembly, and some other sections. However, since much of the wreckage has been moved from its original location and piled together further downhill, it is difficult to identify individual objects or sections.

Photo (©) 2008 Michael Dougherty

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Crash Date / Site

Accident Date: 3 Sep 1942

Accident Site:

Meluncart

(526m / 1,725ft)

Region: Aberdeenshire

Nearest town or village:

Bridge of Dye

(Glen Dye).

From Banchory, via B974 South to Bridge of Dye, or from A90 then North on B974 to Bridge of Dye

Nearest large town or city:

Stonehaven (E) or Brechin (S)

OS Grid Ref. N/A

GPS Ref: N/A

Present Condition: A few pieces still remain at the impact site. However, most of the wreckage has been removed from the original crash location to a gulley further down the hill.

Aircraft Details

Registration or Serial: N6438

Operator: RAF (2 Flying Instructor School (2 FIS); Later, No. 2 FIS at British Commonwealth Air Training Plan Schools - Canada)

(To prevent the Luftwaffe targeting vulnerable training aircraft and their pilots, FIS units were moved to Canada, South Africa, and the former Rhodesia)

Operating Base: RAF Dalcross (until transferred to Canada)

Base Location: Dalcross, Inverness, Scotland

Current Airport Status: Operational Civil Airport.

Current Airport Name: Inverness Airport / Port-adhair Inbhir Nis (EGPE)

Principal airport data courtesy of John Woodside, A Catalogue of UK Airfields