The Royal Air Force in Texas: Training British Pilots in Terrell during World War II

Appendix A: List of Fatalities

160 Appendix A List of Fatalities Twenty-four men died while training at No.1 BFTS between 1941 and 1945. Nineteen British RAF cadets, three civilian instructors, and one Army Air Forces cadet died in flying accidents. One British cadet died of natural causes. The bodies of the three instructors and one army cadet were returned to their homes in various parts of the United States for burial. The twenty British cadets are buried in the Oakland Memorial Cemetery in Terrell. November 10, 1941 Richard D. Mollett AND SO HE PASSED OVER A VALIANT YOUNG HEART HIS SPIRIT LIVES ON The crash occurred at night just after takeoff four miles south of the airport. Mollett was only two days from graduation. He apparently became disoriented after takeoff. January 18, 1942 William L. Ibbs AGE 21 A LOVING SON, GOOD AND KIND A BEAUTIFUL MEMORY LEFT BEHIND The crash occurred five miles from Cumby, Texas, during a night cross-country flight. Ibbs became lost and contacted the Terrell List of Fatalities 161 tower and received directions to the field, but he ran out of fuel and crashed before reaching Terrell. Ibbs died only two days from graduation. January 21, 1942 George I. Hanson HE HAD A NATURE YOU COULDN’T HELP LOVING AND A HEART THAT WAS PURER THAN GOLD T.O. Somerville, Instructor The PT-18 crashed three miles north of Kaufman after an engine failure at low altitude. February 7, 1942 Ramond A. Berry THY WILL BE DONE Leonard G. Blower DEAR FRIEND OF MINE I’LL WALK BESIDE YOU TO THE HOLY CITY MUM, DAD AND FAMILY Two AT-6s collided in midair at 2:30 in the afternoon six miles north of Wills Point. February 14, 1942 Aubrey R. Atkins ONE OF THE DEAREST, ONE OF THE BEST, NOW IN GOD’S KEEPING SAFE AT REST The aircraft crashed two miles west of the field at 4:15 in the morning during routine night flying. 162 Appendix A May 28, 1942 James Craig PEACEFULLY SLEEPING FAR AWAY FROM HOME AND HIS DEAR ONES Three aircraft were buzzing the Wills Point auxiliary field at 9:00 in the morning when Craig’s aircraft struck the beacon light. September 17, 1942 Geoffrey M. Harris IN UNFADING MEMORY OF OUR DARLING GEOFFREY PEACE TO HIS SWEET SOUL The aircraft emerged from heavy clouds about 7:00 in the evening in a steep dive. Harris bailed out but apparently struck the tail of the aircraft. A local doctor saw the parachute descending and stopped to render aid, but Harris was already dead when he landed. October 27, 1942 Allan S. Gadd GOODBYE BELOVED, SLEEP ON AND TAKE THY REST. UNTIL WE MEET AGAIN. CONSTANCE Thomas Travers HE GAVE HIS LIFE IN THE CAUSE OF FREEDOM Two aircraft collided while shifting position during formation flying west of Wills Point at 3:00 in the afternoon. February 1, 1943 Alan R. Langston HE WILLINGLY SERVED HIS COUNTRY IN THE CAUSE OF FREEDOM List of Fatalities 163 During night flying practice the aircraft taxied into a stock tank on the Terrell airfield and overturned. Langston drowned before help could arrive. February 20, 1943 Vincent H. Cockman FEARLESS AND GAY, INTO GOD’S ARMS HE FLEW HE DIED IN THE SUPREME ENDEAVOUR Frank R.W. Fostic AT THE GOING DOWN OF THE SUN AND IN THE MORNING WE WILL REMEMBER HIM Michael J. Hosier EVEN HIS SAD THOUGHTS LEAPT AND SHONE Maurice L. Jensen AT THE GOING DOWN OF THE SUN AND IN THE MORNING WE WILL REMEMBER THEM A flight of nineteen AT-6s left Terrell for a cross-country flight to Miami, Oklahoma. The weather deteriorated and an attempt was made to recall the aircraft. Fourteen planes returned to Terrell, two planes reached Miami, one plane made a forced landing in Oklahoma, and two planes crashed in the Kiamichi mountains near Moyers, Oklahoma. September 17, 1943 Kenneth W. Coaster GOD’S GREATEST GIFT REMEMBRANCE M. B. McDonald, Instructor Coaster ran out of fuel and landed three miles southwest of Waxahachie and called the Terrell airfield. McDonald brought fuel 164 Appendix A to the site. Both Coaster and McDonald were killed when the aircraft failed to clear the trees at the end of the field on takeoff. November 27, 1943 M. W. A. Williamson A DEARLY LOVED SON AND BROTHER...