Plane Crash Galloway Hills September 1945

Betty MacKenzie · 10-08-2007, 08:14 PM

I have a relation who died in the Galloway Hills when his plane crashed in 1945.

He was a Canadian pilot and was from the HMS Premier.

He had flown from Stretton and was heading for Ayr along with another plane. After loosing contact the other plane landed at Wigtown. If this rings any bells with anyone could they please contact me. Or if anyone can tell me the movements of the HMS Premier in 1945 I would be pleased to hear from you.

Keith

Kitty · 10-08-2007, 08:49 PM

Welcome to the forum Betty. I'm sure we can help you. Do you have an exact date of the crash? Maybe some info on where he came down in Galloway?

Kyt · 10-08-2007, 09:39 PM

Would he be Thomas Alexander Oliphant? If so, I can see if I can find details of the crash.

Kyt · 10-08-2007, 09:47 PM

Premier seemed to have laid up around the Clyde after it arrived from its last convoy duty :

Departed from Kola Inlet	April 29, 1945
Arrived Clyde	May 8, 1945

http://www.convoyweb.org.uk/russian/convoy1.php?convoy=RA.66

Quote:

Russia/UK Convoy RA66, the Last Convoy Battle of the War - Kola Inlet bound convoy JW66 (22 ships) arrived safely on the 25th with escort carriers "Premier" and "Vindex", cruiser "Diadem", Home Fleet destroyers and the 8th and 19th EGs all under the command of Rear-Adm A. E. Cunninghame-Graham. Return convoy RA66 (24 ships) set out on the 29th with JW66s escort, some of which went ahead to clear the 14 U-boats waiting off the Inlet. Frigates "Anguilla", "Cotton", "Loch lnsh" and "Loch Shin" of the 19th EG accounted for "U-307" followed by "U-286", the last U-boats sunk by warships of the Royal Navy. In the action, frigate "GOODALL" of the 19th EG was torpedoed by "U-968" and went down with heavy loss of life. She was the last major warship of the Royal and Dominion Navies lost in the war against Germany. RA66 arrived safely in the Clyde on 8th May

German, U-boat, Athenia, Deadlight, operation, Black Point, Atherton, Moberley, US Navy, Newfoundland

morse1001 · 10-08-2007, 11:06 PM

Welcome to the forum

Betty MacKenzie · 10-08-2007, 11:35 PM

Thanks to all who have replied. The pilot's name was Thomas A Oliphant. The information I have is that he was flying a Grumman Wildcat MkV (JV404) and crashed due to bad weather on 11/09/1945. I have the location of the crash. The local press at the time reported that the planes were being ferried. I was interested to hear what may have been happening to the planes. Could it have been that they were being prepared to be placed on a carrier to be sent back to America? If so, could the carrier have been HMS Premier? Would aslo be interested in knowing more of the service of Thomas Oliphant who was Canadian.

Kyt · 11-08-2007, 12:16 AM

JV404 was one of a batch of Mk Vs (JV325-JV636) that were part of a Land-Lease package. As such they would have been either returned to the US or destroyed. In this case, there is every possibility that they were being ferried back to the Premier considering that it would have been in the process of being decommissioning and being returned to the States.

Kyt · 11-08-2007, 12:30 AM

To find out about his service you should contact the Canadian VA. As he died in 1945, he does not fall within the "family only" 20 year limit. For details of how to obtain these files:

Canadian Forces after 1918 (including Second World War) - Canadian Genealogy Centre - Library and Archives Canada

Betty MacKenzie · 11-08-2007, 09:36 AM

Many thanks for the information. It is very much appreciated. I will follow up your suggestion and see what detail is available.
Regards
Keith

10-08-2007, 08:14 PM	#1 (permalink)
Betty MacKenzie Junior Member Join Date: May 2007 Posts: 6	Plane Crash Galloway Hills September 1945 I have a relation who died in the Galloway Hills when his plane crashed in 1945. He was a Canadian pilot and was from the HMS Premier. He had flown from Stretton and was heading for Ayr along with another plane. After loosing contact the other plane landed at Wigtown. If this rings any bells with anyone could they please contact me. Or if anyone can tell me the movements of the HMS Premier in 1945 I would be pleased to hear from you. Keith

10-08-2007, 09:39 PM	#3 (permalink)
Kyt Very Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 2,968	Would he be Thomas Alexander Oliphant? If so, I can see if I can find details of the crash. __________________ _______________________________________ Squadron Leader Pujji - Audio Interviews (half way down the page)

10-08-2007, 11:06 PM	#5 (permalink)
morse1001 Very Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Wishaw, Lanarkshire, Scotland Posts: 4,585	Welcome to the forum __________________ WWW.WARFARETODAY.com

11-08-2007, 12:16 AM	#7 (permalink)
Kyt Very Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 2,968	JV404 was one of a batch of Mk Vs (JV325-JV636) that were part of a Land-Lease package. As such they would have been either returned to the US or destroyed. In this case, there is every possibility that they were being ferried back to the Premier considering that it would have been in the process of being decommissioning and being returned to the States. __________________ _______________________________________ Squadron Leader Pujji - Audio Interviews (half way down the page)

11-08-2007, 12:30 AM	#8 (permalink)
Kyt Very Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 2,968	To find out about his service you should contact the Canadian VA. As he died in 1945, he does not fall within the "family only" 20 year limit. For details of how to obtain these files: Canadian Forces after 1918 (including Second World War) - Canadian Genealogy Centre - Library and Archives Canada __________________ _______________________________________ Squadron Leader Pujji - Audio Interviews (half way down the page)

10-08-2007, 08:49 PM	#2 (permalink)
Kitty Legendary Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 5,121	Welcome to the forum Betty. I'm sure we can help you. Do you have an exact date of the crash? Maybe some info on where he came down in Galloway?

10-08-2007, 11:35 PM	#6 (permalink)
Betty MacKenzie Junior Member Join Date: May 2007 Posts: 6	Thanks to all who have replied. The pilot's name was Thomas A Oliphant. The information I have is that he was flying a Grumman Wildcat MkV (JV404) and crashed due to bad weather on 11/09/1945. I have the location of the crash. The local press at the time reported that the planes were being ferried. I was interested to hear what may have been happening to the planes. Could it have been that they were being prepared to be placed on a carrier to be sent back to America? If so, could the carrier have been HMS Premier? Would aslo be interested in knowing more of the service of Thomas Oliphant who was Canadian.

11-08-2007, 09:36 AM	#9 (permalink)
Betty MacKenzie Junior Member Join Date: May 2007 Posts: 6	Many thanks for the information. It is very much appreciated. I will follow up your suggestion and see what detail is available. Regards Keith

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