Hello I am hoping you can help with researching the above. His ancestry records from the Allied Airman Roll of Honour state "Crashed Over the Side During Take Off From Hms Unicorn Off Kildonan Point" I am trying to find out more about the circumstances of that and his service prior. Any help would be much appreciated. Thank you.
Re crashing over the side I imagine the aircraft either did not have enough power or hit something taking off internet search states it was a Seafire your best bet is to apply for his service records to give you more info on his service career other forum members might have more info
Accident Supermarine Seafire Mk IIc -, 10 Oct 1943 Date: 10-OCT-1943 Time: c. Type: Supermarine Seafire Mk IIc Owner/operator: 897 NAS FAA RN Registration: - MSN: - Fatalities: Fatalities: 1 / Occupants: 1 Other fatalities: 0 Aircraft damage: Written off (damaged beyond repair) Location: 'HMS Unicorn', The Firth of Clyde, Scotland. - United Kingdom Phase: Take off Nature: Military Departure airport: Aircraft carrier 'HMS Unicorn' Destination airport: - Narrative: Lt; R D Beilby RNVR was killed when his unknown Seafire crashed into the Firth of Clyde when taking off from the aircraft carrier 'HMS Unicorn'' on 10th October 1943
UNICORN arrived on the Clyde on October 10th, and the first squadron to disembark was 897, flying ashore to RNAS Burscough the same day; Lt R. D. Beilby RNVR was killed leaving the ship, his aircraft crashed into the sea on take-off. 887 flew ashore to RAF Andover on October 11th; after an overnight stop they continued on to RNAS Machrihanish the following day. 809 flew ashore to RAF Andover on October 12th and 818 disembarked to RNAS Belfast on the 13th. H.M.S. UNICORN
Robert Beilby was my Mother's first husband. He was her first love (They were at university together) and they had not been married very long. I have the photograph of him in his Fleet Air Arm uniform which I found in my Mother's house after she passed away. Very sad
