Anthony Saunders

Anthony John Saunders
Surname	Christian Names		Service Number		Rank	Regiment
Saunders	Anthony John		2526597		A/Plt Off	RAF Hullavington
Born	Age	Enlisted at		Address
14/06/1933 Forest Gate, London	19
Date of Death	Where killed				Cause of Death
15/10/1952	RAF Hullavington				Aircraft crash - hit hangar
Cemetery	Plot				Country
Chippenham (London Road) Cemetery	1, F, 2				England
Next of Kin	Next of kin address				Town

Notes
Wellington T10 RP319 of 1 Air Navigation School, RAF Hullavington. The aircraft swung off the runway during an instrument take off in fog and hit a hangar, killing 4 people. James Halley - Broken Wings Killed in Air Crash Young Trowbridge Pilot Sgt NL Pain A Trowbridge man was one of the victims of aircraft crash at No 1 Air Navigation School, RAF Hullavington on Wednesday morning. The aircraft, a Wellington was about to take off on a routine navigational flight when it failed to gain sufficient height, crashed into the side of a large hangar and blew up. The crash set off the fire alarm and although appliances rushed to the spot immediately, the aircraft was completely burnt out and all 4 occupants were killed. The accident happened at 7.10 and the noise of the explosion was heard by the residents of Stanton St Quintin and Hullavington. They were unable to see the flames due to the dense fog prevailing at the time. Late in the day, the Air Ministry announced the names of dead as Sgt NL Pain, Flt Sgt LB Hodges, Acting Pilot Officer AJ Saunders and Acting Pilot Officer JP Phillip. Wilts Times 18 Oct 1952 The following week, a report of the inquest was published, The inquest could find no cause or reason for the crash. Despite the thick fog, the pilot reported that he could see 2 sets of runway lights which was adequate for take off. The rescue crew reported that the aircraft hit the top corner of a hanger about 25 feet from the ground. Pilot - Sgt Norman Leslie Pain aged 28 from Trowbridge. Buried - Trowbridge cemetery Signaller - Flt Sgt Leonard Bryant Hodges aged 22 from Petersfield, Hants. Buried Rogate Cemetery, Near Petersfiled Pupil Navigator - Acting Pilot Officer Anthony John Saunders aged 19 from Forest Gate, Essex. Buried - Chippenham. Pupil Navigator - Acting Pilot Officer John Patrick Phillip. aged aged 22 from Worthing, Sussex. Buried - Brighton Corporation Crematorium.
A/Plt Off Saunders dated 4th December 1951 Photo from David Taylor (cousin of Anthony Saunders)

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