Hedley Brightmore Archer
He was a hosiery framework knitter in 1939.
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He was the son of Frank Oliver Archer and Annie Archer of Arnold, Nottingham. Hedley Archer and Ethel Mary Turner were married A/M/J/ 1944/
Dakota Mk IV - KP235 crashed on take off from Istres, France. This accident remains the worst single aircraft loss for 78 Sqn to date, including the losses sustained in WWII. All four aircrew were killed (including two brothers) along with 12 ground crew. A 13th member of the ground crew died the following day from his injuries A further nine more passengers were seriously injured as a result.
The crew was performing a mission to the Middle East and the takeoff run was completed by night and in poor weather conditions. At liftoff, the aircraft stalled and crashed. All four crew members and 13 passengers were killed while seven others were seriously injured.
Crew (78th Squadron):
F/O Guy Wilberforce Venables,
F/O Arthur Ernest Venables,
F/O John Edward Dickson,
F/Sgt Eric Frank Dean.
Passengers:
Cpl Headley Brightmore Archer,
LAC Robert Bell,
LAC David Briddock,
LAC Walter James Chaimberlain,
Cpl George Eric Coldwell,
LAC Ronald Fulstone Elliott,
LAC Victor Robert Haddock,
LAC Alfred Edgar Hamshere,
LAC George Brice Jones,
LAC John Ivor Morgan,
LAC Ronald Richards,
LAC Edmund Stuart,
Cpl Joseph Hutchinson.
Unknown
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