Cecil Charles Bryan

Mosquito RL232 85 Sqn RAF Tangmere. Take off 14.15 for training flight. Collided 14.45 with Mosquito RK972 (Disputed). Attempting an emergency landing as the result of damage to its elevator on approach bounced on landing and spun into ground RAF Tangmere.
F/Lt Walter John Baker - Son of George John and Ada Louise Baker, of New Haw, Weybridge. Killed.
F/Sgt Cecil Bryan - Son of Howitt and Amelia Bryan, of Newark. Killed buried Newark Cemetery.

Bognor Regis Observer - Saturday 27 April 1946
AIR FATALITY INQUEST
PILOT AND NAVIGATOR KILLED
The tragic circumstances attending the deaths of the pilot and navigator of a Mosquito aircraft which crashed on April 16 were related at an inquest held at Chichester Courthouse on the 18th inst., by Mr. E. M. Allen, the Assistant Deputy Coroner for the district. The outcome was the recording of a verdict that Flight-Lieut Walter John Baker (23), of Weybridge, and Flight-Sergt. Cecil Charles Brown (22), of Newark, Notts, both of 85 Squadron, R.A.F., stationed at Tangmere, met their deaths accidentally, the only consolation about the tragedy being the medical evidence that they were already dead before there was any possibility of their undergoing suffering from the burning wreckage of the 'plane.

F/Lt. C. Knowles, in charge of "A" Flight, 85 Squadron, stated that the deceased were detailed to commence their flight at 14:15 hrs, the Flight-Lieut. as pilot and the Flight-Sergt. as navigator. He did not see the 'plane leave, but was informed that it had done so, and it was known later to be returning, from a radio telephone message from the 'plane itself. In view of the destruction of the Mosquito and the fact that the deceased were badly disfigured, the only evidence witness could give as to identification was that the 'plane was missing and that he had not seen he occupants since he authorised the flight.

F/Lt E. Wynne-Jones, medical officer at the aerodrome, stated that he went to the scene of the crash at 14:50 hrs, and on arrival found that the 'plane was burning. He saw the bodies in the wreckage, but it was impossible to extricate them for about three-quarters of an hour, when the fire had been put out. Witness described finding partial decapitation in both cases, with multiple compound fractures and severe post-mortem burning. Neither the bodies nor the 'plane were identifiable.

LAC L. F. Marshall said he was working at the salvage unit on the aerodrome when he saw a
Mosquito approaching. He was unable to identify the 'plane, being approximately half a mile awayfrom where it crashed, but it was about 150 to 200 feet above the ground, and coming very slowly. The engines seemed to be quite normal. The 'plane made an attempt to climb, and gained height for a few feet. Witness described technically some unexpected maneuvers and said that eventually the 'plane "came straight down, crashed on the ground, and burst into flames immediately." The flaps and wheels were down, which was a normal thing for a plane which was intending to land.

Jamming of Controls Possible
Engineer Officer H. Richardson said he last saw this particular Mosquito on April 15, and it was then in a serviceable condition in all respects. Describing his own observation of the 'plane's behaviour on the afternoon in question, witness said he formed the conclusion that either an inexperienced person was flying it or that it was defective in some way and the pilot was in difficulty. Flight-Lieut. Baker was a very experienced pilot, but he did not know whether he was flying the 'plane personally. Stating that a jamming of the controls might account for the unusual conduct of the 'plane previous to the crash, witness explained that the controls were inspected every morning, and, which had been done in the case of this 'plane, and "signed for" by a competent tradesman. He could only assume that the crash was due to a defect which had arisen during the flight, or it might have been due to a collision in the area, but there had been no intimation of any collision having occurred.
Witness described how he was sitting in his office when the sound of the engines conveyed to him that something unusual was happening. From the window, he saw that the 'plane was apparently in difficulty and gradually losing speed. He did not see the crash, because he went at once to the telephone, his intuition having told him that something was going to happen. The matter was being investigated by an independent engineer officer.

Leading Aircraftsman C. A. G. Nurse stated that he started the engines up about 2 p.m., and the machine took off normally, the controls being then perfectly in order. Flight-Lieut. Baker was the pilot, but he did not know the navigator. A photograph of Flight-Sergt. Bryan was shown to witness, from which he was able to identify him as the navigator.

In recording his verdict, Mr. Allen said he was satisfied that the identity of the deceased men had been established as far as it could be, and expressed his sympathy with the relatives of "two unfortunate men who must be regarded as having died in the service of their count.

Information below extracted from the Operations Record Book of No. 85 Squadron (AIR 27/2439 at the National Archives).

Tangmere 16 April 1946

The weather was again very fine, and was ill-suited to the very tragic accident which occurred at 14.45, when F/Lt.W.J.Baker and his navigator, F/Sgt. C.C.Bryan, were killed, when their aircraft crashed. F/Lt. Baker had been leading a formation of four aircraft when he broke away sharply and said he was going to make an emergency flapless landing, as he had reason to believe that his fore-and-aft trimming controls were not working properly. He completed a circuit and touched down. He bounced however, and apparently decided to go round again. When at the height of four hundred feet, with the wheels still down, he dropped his left wing, went into a steep turn to port and flew straight into the ground. The aircraft immediately burst into flames, and although several people were soon on the scene of the accident, it was impossible to extricate the Pilot and his Navigator until some forty-five minutes later. While the immediate cause of the accident was that the pilot lost control while going round again, at the moment the loss of control is undecided. F/Lt. W. Baker's death is greatly regretted by all who knew him, for he was greatly liked in the Squadron and was
also a valuable and experienced pilot. F/Sgt. C.C. Bryan had not been with 85 Squadron for so long, but was quickly making a place for himself.