Sunday, 23 January 2022

403998 Sergeant Pilot William Douglas (8/4/1917-24/10/1941) and 414356 Sergeant Pilot Charles Alexander (6/12/1919-26/9/1942) Stuart.


William was a pre-war Air Reservist, called up for preliminary training in October, 1940. he was present at the Empire Theatre gathering to honour himself and other Air Force boys from Riverton, as published in Francis Haslemore's story.

He eventually joined 40 Squadron RAF, flying Wellington bombers, and was part of a squadron detachment operating from the island of Malta when his plane accidentally crashed into the Mediterranian.   One body was found and buried at Catania, Italy.  The rest of the crew remain in their plane.

Charles Stuart trained in Canada and was in 24 OTU (Operational Training Unit) when the obsolete Whitley bomber he was piloting hit Foel-fras in Wales, presumably in cloud.  The impact scar of the crash can still be seen and the surviving wreckage was removed in 2005 as part of a Whitley restoration project - photos can be found here.  Charles was buried at Caernarvon Cemetery, Wales.



Riverton Cemetery.

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