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Summary

A Gloster Gladiator belonging to the 247 squadron crashed at High Willhays whilst on patrol from Royal Air Force St. Eval in Cornwall.

Location

Protected Status: none recorded

Other References/Statuses: none recorded

Monument Type(s) and Dates

• AIRCRAFT CRASH SITE (World War II - 1940 AD to 1940 AD)

Full description

Rendell, P., 2000, Crashed aircraft on Dartmoor (Article in Serial). SDV352716.

A Gloster Gladiator belonging to the 247 squadron crashed whilst on patrol from Royal Air Force St. Eval in Cornwall.

English Heritage, 2002, Military Aircraft Crash Sites. Archaeological guidance on their significance and future management, 2-6 (Pamphlet). SDV352715.

Crash sites have significance for remembrance, commemoration, their cultural value as historic artefacts and the information they contain about both of the circumstances of the loss and of the aircraft itself. Crash sites may on occasion also contain human remains, giving them additional value and status as sacred sites and war graves.
Should wreckage be located, please note that a licence to excavate or recover remains from a military aircraft crash site must be first obtained from the Ministry of Defence, before any such investigations may be undertaken.

Ministry of Defence + Defence Estates, 2009, The Military and Dartmoor. Information for Walkers and Riders (Pamphlet). SDV352710.

About 45 aircraft have crashed onto Dartmoor, most during the Second World War. Amongst them was a Gloster Gladiator that crashed into High Willhays in November 1940.
Location approximate.

Knight, R., 2013, RAF Davidstow Moor 1942-1945, 1940 list (Website). SDV352737.

On 20/11/1940 a Gloster Gladiator II N5644 HP-? 247 Squadron on a night patrol from St Eval went missing over the sea? Members of Bude Home Guard were asked to keep a look out. The aircraft was later discovered to have crashed into high ground near Okehampton, Devon. Sgt Robert Tudor Thomas 754426 was killed.
The next day (21/11/1940), Avro Anson I R9701 MW-L 217 Squadron RAF St Eval took off on an Air Sea Rescue mission to search for Gloster Gladiator N5644 of 247 Squadron that was thought to have been lost off Kelland Head. The Anson suffered failure of the starboard engine, lost height and ditched 5 miles NE of Trevose Head. The crew of F/O Holgate, Sgt Hickson, Sgt Taylor and Sgt Cowley were rescued by the trawlers of the River Camel Patrol.

Sources / Further Reading

Associated Monuments: none recorded

Associated Finds: none recorded

Associated Events

• EDV7620 - Okehampton Artillary Range

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