Remembering Today - Amy Johnson & Lt-Cdr Walter Fletcher AM

Discussion in 'All Anniversaries' started by Jonathan Saunders, Jan 5, 2016.

  1. Today marks 75 years since ATA pilot (and world famous aviatrix) Amy Johnson perished in the Thames Estuary, also Lt-Cdr Walter Fletcher who dived into the sea in an unsuccessful attempt to rescue Amy. He perished the same day from exposure and was awarded a posthumous Albert Medal.
     
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  2. CL1

    CL1 116th LAA and 92nd (Loyals) LAA,Royal Artillery

    FLETCHER, WALTER EDMUND Rank: Lieut-Commander Date of Death: 05/01/1941 Regiment/Service: Royal Navy H.M.S. Haslemere. Awards: A M Grave Reference: Naval Reservation. Grave 1379. Cemetery: GILLINGHAM (WOODLANDS) CEMETERY, KENT Additional Information: Son of the Revd. Canon Edward Sumner Bicknell Fletcher, M.A., and of Bertha May Fletcher, of Monks Risborough, Buckinghamshire.







    JOHNSON, AMY V. Rank: First Officer Date of Death: 05/01/1941 Age: 37 Regiment/Service: Air Transport Auxiliary Awards: C B E Panel Reference: Panel 288. Memorial: RUNNYMEDE MEMORIAL Additional Information: Daughter of John William and Amy Johnson, of Beverley, Yorkshire. B.A., A.R.Ae.S., F.R.G.S., F.S.E., M.W.E.S. President's gold medal from Society of Engineers, 1931; Egyptian gold medal for valour, 1930; League of Aviators', Women's Trophy, 1930; Segrave Trophy, 1932; Royal Aero Club's gold medal, 1936. Personal Story: [​IMG]

    Amy Johnson was famous in the 1930s for setting numerous long distance flying records. During the Second World War she served with the Air Transport Auxiliary, flying aircraft from factories to airbases.
    She was killed in January 1941 when her aircraft crashed into the Thames estuary in bad weather. She managed to bail out, and Royal Navy ships attempted to come to her aid, but in the difficult conditions her body was never recovered.
    She is commemorated on the Air Forces Memorial at Runnymede in the United Kingdom.
     
    canuck, Guy Hudson and Peter Clare like this.

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