On the afternoon of Saturday, May 15, 1943, two Sea Hurricanes from RNAS Yeovilton were performing low-flying training manoeuvres over Downside School grounds.
On the afternoon of Saturday, May 15, 1943, two Sea Hurricanes from RNAS Yeovilton were performing low-flying training manoeuvres over Downside School grounds. During a cricket match, the second aircraft dropped to an exceptionally low altitude. While attempting to climb over tall fir trees bordering the pitch, the plane clipped the trees and nosedived into a grass bank. The burning wreckage ricocheted and crashed into a crowd of boys who were gathered on the embankment to watch the match. The pilot, Sub-Lieutenant Alan McCracken and eight boys died instantly. A ninth pupil succumbed to his injuries a few days later. More than a dozen others were injured.
The whole Downside School community gathered together on 15 May at 15.15 at our cricket pavilion to remember the fallen.
We would like to thank the pilots who conducted the Fly Past from a Navy Wings Chipmonk (the historic flight of the Fleet Air Arm based at RNAS Yeovilton) over the cricket grounds.
David Michael Jennings, aged 10
Hugh Michael Dearlove, aged14.
David Hugh Lowndes, aged 16.
Laurence John McNabb, aged 15.
Brian Richard Patrick McSwiney, aged 14.
Michael Bagot Quinlan, aged 15.
Philip Humphrey Peter Rose, aged 14.
Keith Edward Charles Stokes, aged 15.
SLt Alan McCracken, aged 22
Categories: School News
