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Registration
or Serial: N1498
Operator:
Royal Air Force
(19 OTU - Operational Training Unit)
Operating Base:
RAF Kinloss / RAF Forres
(satellite
of Kinloss)
Base
Location (RAF
Kinloss): Forres, Morayshire. 3 miles from Forres; 12 miles from
Elgin; 27 miles from Inverness.
Current
Airport Status: Operational
Military Airport
Current
Airport Name:
RAF Kinloss (EGQK)
(Principal airport data courtesy of
John Woodside,
A
Catalogue of UK Airfields)
Aircraft Type & Background
The
Whitley was an all-metal monoplane medium-heavy bomber, fitted with two
engines. Initially, these were Armstrong Siddeley Tiger IX (later
reverting to VIII) engines. However, from the Whitley Mark IV, these
were superseded by the more powerful Rolls Royce Merlin X piston
engines.
The
Whitley bomber entered service with the RAF in 1937 and was withdrawn in
1945. The aircraft carried a crew of 4 (six on the Mark VII).
However, the aircraft featured here was carrying 7 crew members
(including an instructor). This, however, should not have presented
any problems, as this aircraft would not have been carrying its full
complement of bombs.
Improvements to the Whitley Mark V (the aircraft featured here)
included a Nash and Thomson powered tail turret with four 7.7mm
(0.303in) machine guns, an extended rear fuselage to improve the
rear gunner's view, and de-icing equipment.
The
Whitley Mark V
could carry up to 3,178kg (7,000lbs) of bombs distributed between
the bomb bay and wing racks. It had a range of 2,654km (1,650 miles)
and could fly at 357km/h (222mph).
Due to
heavy losses and the introduction of more powerful 4-engine bombers,
the Whitley was withdrawn from front-line service and allocated to
Coastal Command. The Mark VII version of the Whitley was equipped
with ASV
(Air to Surface Vessel) Mk II radar and proved effective in its role
as a maritime reconnaissance aircraft.
Some
Whitley Mark Vs bombers were converted to freight-carrying aircraft operated
by BOAC (British
Overseas Airways Corporation). Flying at night, they carried
essential supplies between Gibraltar and Malta, until replaced by the
more fuel-efficient Lockheed Hudsons.
Aircraft Accident Details
This bomber from 19 OTU was operating
out of RAF Kinloss on a training flight with a crew of seven
(including an instructor).
However, it crashed into the snow covered hills not far from the summit of Carn
a' Chóire Mhoir. The aircraft caught fire on impact.
Of the seven crew on board, four were killed and
three survived. Those killed were:
-
P/O
John Graham
Castling (pilot
/ NZ-41875 / See box on right)
-
P/O
John G. Irvine (pilot)
-
Sgt.
Cecil S. George (pilot / instructor)
-
Sgt.
Cyril W. Green (wireless operator / air gunner)
Those who were injured but survived
were:
-
Sgt. D.
Pike
-
Sgt. E.F.J.
Kane
-
Sgt. E.M.
Edgehill
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Accident Date
6 January 1942
Accident
Site
Carn a' Chóire Mhoir
(627m)
(crash site close to summit)
Region: Highland
Nearest
town or village:
Balvraid
nr. Tomatin
OS Grid Ref:
NH 844 289
(Trig
pillar close to memorial pillar)
Hill Walking
Notes
No information
available at present.
Present Condition
Until 2003 some parts of the
fuselage, landing gear and wing remained onsite. However,
these have since been removed and only a few fragmented parts
of wreckage can now be seen.
The largest remaining piece of
wreckage (part of the fuselage) is on display at the the
Midland Air Museum, Baginton, Coventry, UK.
Related Links
RAF Links
RNZAF Links
Other Links
Pilot
Officer John G. Castling died at Tomatin House on 6 January
1942. He was laid to rest at Kinloss Abbey Burial Ground in
Moray, Scotland (Grave 22 Row A).
If anyone can provide a
picture of this Airman, perhaps from an OTU or similar group
photograph, please contact
New Zealands Roll of Honour)
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