- Extended Description
- FOLLOWING THREE DIED TOGETHER Crew of Bristol Beaufort JM451
1.
Alan Gilbert POTTER. Flight Sergeant, Navigator Bomb Aimer 417302 Royal Australian Air Force attached to No 5 (Coastal) Operational Training Unit RAF.
Born 18 November 1921 at Warrnambool, Victoria Joseph and Marion Ruth Potter. Husband of Eunice Laurel Potter, nee Trowbridge of Prospect, South Australia.
He was part of a crew of four in a Bristol Beaufort JM451
Died as the result of a flying accident 23 July 1943 aged 30 years.
He is at rest in Eglantine All Saints Churchyard, County Down, Northern Ireland.
On 23rd July 1943, he was navigator and bomb aimer in Bristol Beaufort JM451 taking off from Maghaberry (Satellite )Airfield Co. Antrim. Northern Ireland The crew was detailed to carry out non-operational day-time map reading, air to air firing, photography, and QCM exercises. Potter and the remaining crew members died when the plane came down at 1035hrs three
miles west of Swatragh, Co. Antrim.
Notes from his service record.
Enlisted at No 5 Recruitment Centre, Adelaide 28 March 1942 aged 29 years and 1 month.
12 November 1942 he was training at No 2 Bombing and Gunnery School RAAF at Port Pirie South Australian. The same day awarded the Air Observer Badge.
21 September 1942 at No 2 Air Observers School (AOS) Mt Gambier South Australia
Embarked from Australia to Canada, for training with the Royal Canadian Air Force,
The 31 January 1943 he was attached to the RCAF, 19 February 1943 with No.1 General Reconnaissance School RCAF
16 May 1943 embarked Canada for UK, disembarking 24 May 1943. The following day he was at (11 PDRC) No. 11 Personnel Despatch and Receiving Centre RAAF, Brighton for deployment to his RAF attachment. 16 July 1943 he was posted to (5 (C ) O T U) No 5 (Coastal) Operational Training Unit
RAF Long Kesh in Northern Ireland, using Maghaberry as a satellite from February to September 1943.
The following is report (which is also in his service record) on the pilot Flying Officer Maurice John William Aspinall RCAF actions during a training flight which caused the death of the crew
A. The pilot was briefed to carry out a map reading exercise, air to air firing, photography and QCM training exercise. He flew through cloud at a height of approximately 1000 feet and hit the top of a hill. Both engines were under normal power and aircraft appeared to have been in level flight.
B. Weather at base good. Mist and low cloud covered some of the hills. Pilot was briefed to fly at 3000 feet if he encountered cloud.
C. It is considered that the accident was due to direct disobedience of orders and gross carelessness on the part of the pilot who had over 900 hrs flying experience.
The other crew members of JM451 were:
Flying Officer Maurice John William Aspinall (J/14046) (RCAF) (Pilot)
Sergeant Eric Charles Buttle (1207235) (RAFVR) (Wireless Air Gunner)
Sergeant Reginald Douglas Eaglen (1027840) (RAFVR) (Wireless Air Gunner)
