On Saturday 12th May 1945, a flight of four Hawker Tempests of ‘B’ Flight, No.1 Squadron, 56 Operational Training Unit, No. 12 Group, RAF Milfield, Fighter Command, were authorised by Deputy Flight Commander F/Lt. H R Wingate to carry out formation flying practice; only three would take off for the flight. The flight was under the instruction of J/88877 Acting Flight Lieutenant Fredrick Wallace Mossing DFC (EJ685) as No.1, 517172 Flight Sergeant Cyril Whitworth Powell l (NV759) as No.2, and P/O F B Baudinet as No. 3. The fourth pilot, Sgt. Foweather was unable to take off due to his aircraft being deemed as unserviceable.
The flight took off at 11.50 a.m. On completing the exercise the formation were instructed to return to Line Action Formation. On approach to landing at 1.15 p.m. at a height of 1000 feet, EJ685 turned to a few degrees to starboard, NV759 was slow to follow, when correcting its position, NV759 was caught in the slipstream of EJ685; NV759’s propeller struck the tail of EJ685 taking off most of the rudder. EJ685 circled the aerodrome in an attempt to land but had no control; climbing to 3000 feet, F/Lt Mossing jettisoned the hood and pointed EJ685 in an easterly direction, turned the aircraft onto its starboard side and baled out. His parachute was seen to open 150 feet from him leaving the aircraft, and he made a good decent, although it was noticed that he was swinging rather badly. F/Lt Mossing landed in the Little Sour Pudding Field, 1 ½ miles east of the aerodrome. He was observed to fall forward onto his face on landing and made no attempt to right himself. He was picked up by ambulance and admitted to RAF Milfield Staff Sick Quarters at 2.15 p.m. suffering from what appeared shock and bruising, his condition deteriorated and he died at 2.30 p.m.
NV759 immediately after the collision broke 45° to Port and carried straight on. 2 miles north of the aerodrome NV759 circled slowly losing height, with white smoke trailing from the aircraft, in an attempt to make a forced landing. NV759 hit the west bank of the River Till, completely cleared the river and crashed into the vertical east bank. There was a house in the field and it would appear F/Sgt. Powell had tried to avoid the house. On hitting the vertical east bank, NV759 was totally destroyed killing F/Sgt. Powell.
The funeral of Flight Lieutenant Fredrick Wallace Mossing DFC RCAF, took place on Thursday 17th May 1945 at R.A.F. Regional Cemetery, Stonefall, Harrogate. Wreaths were sent by the Commanding Officer and Officers, the Canadian Officers, members of the Sergeants Mess and the airmen and airwomen of R.A.F. Station, Milfield.
The funeral of Flight Sergeant Cyril Whitworth Powell, RAF, took place on Friday 18th May 1945 at Cadoxton Church and Cemetery, Neath. Wreaths were sent by the Commanding Officer and Officers, members of the Sergeants Mess and the airmen and airwomen of R.A.F. Station Milfield.
Distinguished Flying Cross – J88877 F/Lt Frederick Wallace Mossing, No.274 Squadron - Award effective 22 June 1945 as per London Gazette of that date and AFRO 1219/45 dated 27 July 1945: ‘This officer has completed a large number of sorties during which he has attacked a wide range of enemy targets such as airfields, locomotives, mechanical transport and other targets on the ground with a good measure of success. He has invariably displayed a high degree of courage and determination in pressing home his attacks and on many occasions his aircraft has been damaged by enemy fire. On one occasion he himself was wounded. Among his successes is the destruction of two enemy aircraft’.
See also: The Price of Peace - A catalogue of RAF Aircraft Losses between VE-Day And End of 1945. page 49; Colin Cummings; Nimbus Publishing; ISBN 09526619 5 0.
