New Zealand pilot Alan Washer

[Dave Homewood]

I have been corresponding with Regan Washer, who would like to find out more about a relation, Alan Washer.

Alan Washer was test flying a Bristol Beaufort Mk I L4443 on the 12th June 1940, flying from Bristol, when it caught fire over Oxford during engine cooling trials.

His two crew members baled out safely over the built up residential area of Oxford but Alan stayed with the aircraft and he crashed it into an empty school playground to avoid hitting houses and people, and he was killed.

Regan would like to know about Alan's career before this crash. When did he join the Air Force? Where was he trained? What units was he on? Anything really. Can anyone offer info on him please?

[errolmartyn]

From my For Your Tomorrow - A record of New Zealanders who have died while serving with the RNZAF and Allied Air Services since 1915 (Volume Three: Biographies & Appendices):

WASHER, Mr Charles Alan.
(no No.) (No.? in RAF); b Alton (on parents farm) 11 Oct 10; New Plymouth BHS; occ? - Archibald Clark, wholesalers, New Plymouth. NZ Army/TF; Emb for UK mid-29 selected for RAF SSComm; RAF Uxbridge/Depôt as Pilot u/t & SSComm 13 Sep 29, 5FTS 28 Sep 29, Pilots Badge, 13 Sqn (Atlas) 9 Sep 30, CFS 28 Sep 31, 2FTS (various a/c types) as FI 16 Dec 31, to Malta & Hal Far Stn Flt (various a/c types) as FI 18 Mar 32, to UK & Depôt 27 Dec 33, CFS (various a/c types) as FI 20 Jan 34, Res 27 Aug 34 [attained Flt Lt rank]; Bristol Aeroplane Co as test pilot c.e.35 [&/or FI at 'Bristol Flying School' (aka 2E&RFTS) for first 3 yrs?], baled out when Wellesley caught fire (uninj) 13 May 38, [relinq RAF Comm 27 Aug 38], kaa 12 Jun 40 (Beaufort). St Mary's Churchyard Cemetery, Berrow, near Burnham-on-Sea, Somerset, England. Son of Albert Edgar & Lena Washer (née Hellier), Westown, New Plymouth.

Errol

[errolmartyn]

I should also mention that there are a number of documents on him held on a file at Personnel Records, NZDF, Trentham. Copy freely available from there upon request. See here for details: www.nzdf.mil.nz/personnel-records/nzdf-archives/

Errol

[errolmartyn]

'Chuck' Washer was a cousin of Charles Alan Washer, according information I received from the late Colin Hanson who also records the former in his By Such Deeds - Honours and Awards in the Royal New Zealand Air Force, 1923-1999:

WASHER, Flight Lieutenant Charles Gordon, DFC.
NZ415392; Born Hawera, 4 Jun 1918; RNZAF 27 Sep 1941 to 12 Jun 1945; Pilot.
Citation Distinguished Flying Cross (8 Dec 1944): [75(NZ)Sqn RAF (Lancaster)] This officer has completed numerous operations against the enemy, in the course of which he has invariably displayed the utmost fortitude, courage and devotion to duty.
Following his tour with 75 Sqn Flt Lt Washer instructed at 3 LFS RAF. Member of the ‘Caterpillar Club’. On the night of 31 Mar 1944 he baled out of a 1657 HCU RAF Stirling in a snow storm. On pulling the rip-cord only the pilot chute deployed, pulling the parachute pack up over his head. Some anxious moments passed while reaching up and manually pulling the main ‘chute out of its pack. In 1993, Flt Lt Washer said “it was fortunate that I have long arms”! His descent was so rapid that although he baled out last he was first to the ground. Died Rahotu, 16 Jul 1999.

Errol

[errolmartyn]

In the 20 Oct 1938 issue of Flight Washer appears in a photo among a group with officers of a Turkish Blenheim squadron. See here at: www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1938/1938%20-%202881.html?search=washer

Errol

[errolmartyn]

There was a degree of déjà vu about Washer’s 1940 Beaufort accident, as the following report reveals (this is not among the papers held on the PA/NZAF file I mentioned earlier):

The Times, 14 May 1938

FIRE IN THE AIR
LOSS OF SECOND LONG
RANGE AEROPLANE

FROM OUR AERONAUTICAL CORRESPONDENT

The second of the Air Ministry’s long-range
monoplanes, intended for an attempt
on the world’s long-distance record, was
lost yesterday. It took fire in the air
during a test flight near Bristol. The pilot,
Flight Lieutenant C. A. Washer, escaped
by parachute and landed safely, but the
other occupant. Mr. P. H. Warren, a test
observer, failed to get out in time and was
killed when the machine struck the ground
in a field at Alveston, near the main road
between Bristol and Gloucester.
This aeroplane, a Vickers Wellesley
Bomber, prepared specially for long•
range experimental work, was out on a
test flight from Filton when the accident
happened. and both the occupants were
employees of the Bristol Aeroplane Company.
The engine, a Bristol Pegasus
XXII, and the special installation were
the responsibility of the Bristol company,
but the air-frame and its main equipment
were the work of Vickers (Aviation)
Limited. Fire is understood to have
occurred in the aeroplane when it was at a
height of about 3,000ft. The cause of the
fire cannot at the moment be precisely
ascertained, but it is said not to have been
due to any fault in the engine or its
installation.

A RARE OCCURRENCE
Fire in the air is very rare occurrence, and
there has been no previous known case in a
Wellesley. Nevertheless, the accident is of
particular importance, both because the
method of construction used in the Wellesley
is of a new and secret type and because the
loss or the other long-range Wellesley off the
coast or Northern Scotland on the morning of
February 24 still remains unexplained. In the
latter case the wireless messages from the
machine, which had been engaged on a flight
round England from 11.50 the previous night,
ceased suddenly at 8 a.m. and nothing further
was heard or seen of the aeroplane until a
wheel identified as belonging to it, was found
on the Norwegian coast. This was not
sufficient to suggest the cause of the disaster,
in which four lives were lost.
In yesterday’s accident the test pilot left
the aeroplane when it became evident that the
fire could not be put out. Why the observer
was unable to get out is of his cockpit in time
to use his parachute is not clear. In this type
of aeroplane, pilot and rear gunner occupy
separate cockpits with a communicating tunnel
between them. Both have sliding transparent
covers, The Wellesley was the first type of
aeroplane to be built on the geodetic system
of construction, which gives a remarkably light
structure and enables a big, useful load to be
carried.

Errol

[Dave Homewood]

Great info Errol, thanks. I'll pass this all on to Regan.

[chinapilot]

Another Kiwi buried miles from home...
What I find interesting here is that the accident occurred near Oxford and yet he was buried at Berrow in Somerset.
Assume he was based at Filton and wondered if he married and/or lived in Berrow (which although is not a great distance would have been a hefty commute in wartime)
The church is near where I have a place in the UK and I have visited it a couple of times especially with guests as it is fairly old and has a very high tower in a great setting but unfortunately didn't know there was a New Zealander there...

[errolmartyn]

At the time of his death Washer's residential address was 92 The Hill, Almondsbury, Glo., so pretty much on Bristol's doorstep. He was unmarried, though perhaps he had a girlfriend or fiancée in the Berrow area?

Errol

[chinapilot]

That makes more sense as it's close to Filton ( which incidentally was closed a couple of years ago)
Wonder why Berrow then? - as you say maybe a fiancé who wished him to be buried there. Will drive over and have a look next time I'm there as there could be a clue on the headstone.

[Dave Homewood]

A message from Regan Washer who is very grateful for all the info that has come forward here.

"I see in the forum they asked why he was buried at Berrow so far from home. The Washers lived at Berrow from 1600 to c.1876 when most of the family migrated to NZ."

[oggie2620]

Dave have you given Glen T these details for his records. Might be interesting to post on the 75 Sqn FB page. Are there any pics of this young man?