AIR TRAGEDY
ANSON NK592 of 76 OTU
Deversoir 28th July 1945
QUESTION:
On the 28th July 1945 and Anson aircraft was involved in an accident at RAF Deversoir which resulted in the death of a member of the WAAF.
Does any member recall this incident and could they offer any more information
as to what happened on the day of the accident and on the following day?
- David Molyneux ex: Schoolboy (RAF Father)
ANSWERS:
The Anson referred to was a MkI, serial NK592 of 76 OTU that had been airborne
for some 1 hours & 20 mins when the pilot experienced engine problems. He
reduced power and set course for the nearest airfield but could not make radio
contact with his base. On arrival he fired the aircraft’s Very pistol
without first removing it from its stowage, filling the cockpit with smoke.
The W/Op believed he had heard the pilot order the a/c’s occupants to
bail out and three of them did so. However, one passenger failed to pull her
parachute ripcord and she was killed. The pilot then carried out a wheels-up
landing on the airfield. Another WAAF, Cpl Felice Poser, was one of the others
to jump from the aircraft and did so at 500ft, opening her chute promptly and
landing beside the Officer’s Mess narrowly missing a barbed wire fence.
She became the only member of the WAAF to be admitted to the Caterpillar Club
during WWII. Her story is related in the book “Into The Silk” by
Ian Mackersey.
- John Mitchell, 216 Sqdn RAF Fayid
Further to my request for information regarding a fatal accident at Deversoir, I have obtained the following:
An Anson aircraft of 76 OUT (Aqir) carrying a pilot, one crew and three passengers
(two of whom were WAAFs) experienced trouble with the starboard engine when
within sight of Deversoir. The pilot requested an emergency landing, but on
getting close to the airfield circuit had heard no acknowledgement. To attract
attention he fired his Verey pistol, unfortunately not realising that it was
positioned in a stowage holder and not one for firing. The cartridge accordingly
remained burning in the holder and evidenced that the aircraft was on fire.
In the resulting confusion the Wireless Operator misunderstood the situation
and, thinking that the pilot had ordered everyone to bale out, took the appropriate
action. The aircraft was then at about 800 feet flying over the domestic area
of the Station. As the cabin door was jettisoned it ripped a large piece of
fabric from the top of the fuselage and this streamed back to flap over the
tail plane where pieces began to tear away. Meanwhile one of the WAAFs prepared
to make the first jump. She fell away from the aircraft with one hand on the
release ring, but for some reason omitted to pull it. Her body, with parachute
unopened, fell through the roof of the Station Guard Room and she instantly
died from gross injuries. The second to leave the aircraft was the other WAAF.
She operated her parachute without hesitation and made a good landing outside
the Officers Mess. The third to go was the Wireless Operator who also made a
successful descent just inside the perimeter wire. The aircraft then proceeded
to land successfully with undercarriage up. In the meantime the Verey cartridge
had burnt itself out without causing a real outbreak of fire, though it came
perilously near to burning through a petrol pipe. This altogether unnecessary
tragedy deeply distressed all ranks, but there was some consolation to find
the surviving WAAF capable of displaying excellent presence of mind when faced
with such an alarming predicament during what was only her second flight. She
was most composed after the incident. The body of the deceased airwoman was
flown next day to Aqir for burial in Jerusalem.
A Baltimore aircraft conveyed the coffin which was accommodated in the bomb
bay without difficulty.
LACW Lili Stefania Bankier was buried in the Vaad Hakehilla cemetery on 29th
July; sadly her grave has been ‘lost’ and she is now commemorated
on a special memorial in Ramleh War Cemetery.
- Dave Molyneux ex Schoolboy RAF Father – Sender of the original request
for information