REASON FOR LOSS:

Sister aircraft from 101 Squadron K4561

The aircraft took-off from R.A.F. Mildenhall at 1525hrs with a crew of two on return flight to R.A.F. Bicester. On Monday the 11th at 1400hrs the aircraft had been flow to Mildenhall by a P/O Downland, with P/O Watson and AC1 Rice as passengers. P/O Downland was to remain at Mildenhall and P/O Watson was to pilot the machine back to Bicester with AC1 Rice as a passenger, during in the return flight the crew encountered bad weather and in dense fog the aircraft crashed in a forced landing near Abovemede Farm, Swanbourne, Buckinghamshire killing both of the crew.

Five Overstrands of 101 Squadron flying over the Buckinghamshire Countryside.

(Below) Inquest proceedings into the crash held at R.A.F. Bicester, along with eye witness accounts, published in The Bicester Advertiser on Friday 15th January 1937.

Boulton Paul Overstrand K4564, one of only 28 aircraft of this type built, and was the first Type to have a power operated gun turret fitted in the nose.

The crash site of this very rare aircraft was investigated by The Aircrew Remembrance Society on the 18th and 19th September 2020. Where a minutes silence was held in memory of the crew prior to the investigation.

A temporary memorial to the crew was erected on the day in the north-west corner of Grid Ref: F7. Beneath a Royal Air Force Flag.

Readings flagged prior to grid marking on Friday 18th September.

15 metre square grid marking on Friday 18th September over pre-determined search areas.

Alex King points out main concentration in map reference F7 on 10x10 grid map produced to cover the 150 metre field width.

Dig in progress 19th September (left to right) Dave Keen and Tony White working in Grid ref: F7 and David King and Charlie White working in Grid ref: F6, the Royal Airforce flag at the site of the temporary Memorial in the North West corner of grid F7.

In the foreground Alex King working in Grid Ref: F6 and Dave Keen working in the South East corner of Grid ref: F7.

Left to Right: Dave Keen on the southern boarder of Grid ref: F7 and Melvin Brownless and Paul Cannon on the eastern boundary of Grid ref: F8.

A special thanks to Dave Keen who work tirelessly from early morning till late in the evening on the 19th locating some of the most interesting finds late in the day. Also Tony and Charlie White for their assistance on the 18th locating and marking sound readings for our grid references and also attending on the 19th during the recovery.

Special thanks also to Tamara Craker who worked with us all day on the 19th recording, photographing, and listing finds. Tamara seen here at the work station set up on the site where she worked all day. Many Thanks to all who attended.

A full account of the recovery and photographic record of the finds will be added here as a link shortly.
Last but not least a big thank you to David Holdom who farms the land who also supplied us with important information as his father was a witness to the crash at the time.