Simon Glancey has submitted the following:
Sgt Allan was killed when Vickers Wellington Mk. X NC649 of 21 O.T.U. (Operational Training Unit) crashed on a training flight. The Wellington was on a night-time cross-country flight from R.A.F. Moreton-in-Marsh, and is thought to have stalled while descending through cloud, crashing at 23.35 and bursting into flames near Stow-on-the-Wold, Gloucestershire. All seven crew members lost their lives.
Royal Air Force Bomber Command Losses of the Second World War: Vol. 7; Operational Training Units 1940-1947; W.R. Chorley; 2002; Midland Publishing; ISBN 1 85780 132 6, page 322
A Court of Inquiry concluded that :
NC649 took off at 1900 hours on the 30th October, Flt Sgt Moran was a Pupil Pilot flying with a Pupil crew of six. The cross-country route was Base – St David’s - St Mary’s –Tiverton – Bristol - Priors Hardwick – Odstone - Base. At 1228 hours the aircraft received a QDM (a request for a Magnetic heading to a station) and it was expected that R/T communication would soon be established but after the QDM nothing was heard.
At approx 2330 hours the aircraft was heard circling near Royal Observation Corps Post Y3, Stow on the Wold. It appeared to circle twice before crashing about half a mile from the post, and it hit the ground approx 250 feet above the airfield. The cloud at base was 800 feet with patches of cloud at 500 feet. The cause of the accident was obscure, but it was considered that the accident was due to the aircraft striking high ground while endeavouring to locate the aerodrome under a low cloud base, It was considered possible that the Pilot was not flying on instruments but was looking out.
John Stanley Allan is remembered in Aykley Heads on A41.02 and at Durham on D47.038 and D47.054
