LEST WE FORGET
Sergeant Alan Barton WATSON
Service No: 404843
Born: Goondiwindi QLD, 23 April 1920
Enlisted in the RAAF: 6 December 1940
Unit: No. 253 Squadron (RAF)
Died: Aircraft Accident (No. 253 Squadron Hurricane aircraft BN284), Lincolnshire, 25 February 1942, Aged 21 Years
Buried: Kirton-In-Lindsey Burial Ground, Lincolnshire
CWGC Additional Information: Son of George Haliford Barton Watson and Phyllis Grace Watson, of Yerongpilly, Queensland, Australia
Roll of Honour: Brisbane QLD
Remembered: Panel 132, Commemorative Area, Australian War Memorial, Canberra ACT
On 25 February 1942, Hurricane BN284 crashed at 2015 hours at Yewfield Farm, Holton-Le-Moor, near Caister Lincolnshire, when the engine failed due to running the reserve fuel tank empty. The aircraft dived into the ground and was extensively damaged and Sergeant Watson was killed.
A Court of Inquiry into the accident reported: “an examination of the aircraft revealed that at the time of the crash the fuel cock was in the Reserve On position. The aircraft had been airborne for 37 minutes. If the Pilot had originally taken off and flown for that duration on the Reserve tank, it would have been empty and lack of fuel in the carburettor would have caused the engine to cut out. As the Pilot started the engine before taking off for the flight it is impossible to state the position of the fuel cock for take-off. The Pilot reported on radio at 2015 hours that his engine had cut and he was ‘baling out’. An examination of the crash pointed to the fact that an attempt had been made to bale out as the Sutton harness was found undone. As the Fuel Cock was found to be in the Reserve On position it is thought that the Pilot had failed to turn over to Mains after starting the engine.”
References:
Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour On-Line Records (RAAF Casualty Information compiled by Alan Storr (409804))
Commonwealth War Graves Commission On-Line Records
Department of Veterans’ Affairs On-Line WWII Nominal Roll
National Archives of Australia On-Line Record A705, 163/176/229