3rd September 1939:Pilot Officer John Noel Laughton Isaac Royal Air Force 600 Sqdn.

Pilot Officer John Isaacs of 600 Squadron became one of the first casualties on 3rd September 1939 when his Blenheim I crashed in Heading Street,Hendon while practising single engine approaches to RAF Hendon.This unfortunate accident ,which also killed one person on the ground ,resulted in the banning of all training flights at Hendon.


from Hendon Aerodrome-A History- by David Oliver

ISAAC, JOHN NOEL LAUGHTON

Rank:
Pilot Officer
Service No:
90721
Date of Death:
03/09/1939
Age:
28
Regiment/Service:
Royal Air Force

600 Sqdn.
Grave Reference
Panel 2.
Cemetery
GOLDERS GREEN CREMATORIUM
Additional Information:
Son of Wilfrid John and Rosalind Mary Isaac, of Cardiff. B.A. (Oxon.); Solicitor.

 

First RAF serviceman to die after declaration of war.

Blenheim L1164

British Military Aviation in 1939 - Part 2

Ross

 

Surprisingly to me, there were (6) RAF deaths recorded for the 3rd September 1939. (CWGC)

I have placed P/O Isaac first as he is confirmed as the first to die, 1 hour 50 minutes after the British declaration of war.


ISAAC, JOHN NOEL LAUGHTON Pilot Officer 90721 03/09/1939 28 Royal Air Force United Kingdom Panel 2. GOLDERS GREEN CREMATORIUM

BOWYER, FRANK ASTON Aircraftman 2nd Class 641028 03/09/1939
Royal Air Force United Kingdom Sec. I. C. of E. Grave 412. BEBINGTON CEMETERY

HART, GEORGE WILLIAM Aircraftman 1st Class 350110 03/09/1939 36 Royal Air Force United Kingdom Sec. C. Grave 13210. MIDDLESBROUGH (LINTHORPE) CEMETERY

CUMMINGS, ELLARD ALEXANDER Pilot Officer 40803 03/09/1939 23 Royal Air Force United Kingdom Grave 1949. ABERDEEN (GROVE) CEMETERY

WARREN, PHILIP HERBERT Aircraftman 1st Class 561954 03/09/1939
Royal Air Force United Kingdom Sec. B. Gen. Grave 8076. PLYMOUTH (WESTON MILL) CEMETERY

STEWART, ALEXANDER RONALD RENFREW Leading Aircraftman 521250 03/09/1939 24 Royal Air Force United Kingdom Sec. S. Grave 391. PAISLEY (HAWKHEAD) CEMETERY

 

3 September
Pilot Officer John Noel Isaac of No.600 Squadron becomes the first Briton to die in the Second World War when his Bristol Blenheim crashes into Heading Street in Hendon at 1250hrs, 1 hour 50 minutes after the British declaration of war.
British Military Aviation in 1939 - Part 2

 

So - was it a solo flight, or did the rest of the crew survive the crash??

(Doesn't a Blenheim have a 3 man crew?)

 

Flown solo Dave. It was his second solo on the type.

The report gives the time of crash as 12:35hrs rather than the 12:50 hrs in other online sources.

Here is the AIB Report from AVIA 5/19 at the TNA.

Ross

 

thanks Ross
much appreciated

regards
Clive

 

Cheers Ross (& Clive & Geoff) - nice to read the crash report for the first RAF casualty after war was declared.

Any info on the other PLTOFF or 4 AC/LAC casualties on the day??

 

Cummings and Stewart

E.A. Cummings, killed 3-9-39

Regards
Ross

 

Thanks again Ross - that's the other PLTOFF & the LAC accounted for (in an aircraft I don't think I had heard of before)

The 3 ACs probably were killed in a ground accident or somesuch

 

Pilot Officer John Isaacs of 600 Squadron became one of the first casualties on 3rd September 1939 when his Blenheim I crashed in Heading Street,Hendon while practising single engine approaches to RAF Hendon.This unfortunate accident ,which also killed one person on the ground ,resulted in the banning of all training flights at Hendon.


from Hendon Aerodrome-A History- by David Oliver

 

http://ww2talk.com/forums/topic/49403-remembering-today-3939-pilot-officer-jnlisaac-90721-royal-air-force-600-sqdn/

 

http://ww2talk.com/forums/topic/49403-remembering-today-3939-pilot-officer-jnlisaac-90721-royal-air-force-600-sqdn/

 

Pilot Officer John Isaacs of 600 Squadron became one of the first casualties on 3rd September 1939 when his Blenheim I crashed in Heading Street,Hendon while practising single engine approaches to RAF Hendon.This unfortunate accident ,which also killed one person on the ground ,resulted in the banning of all training flights at Hendon.


from Hendon Aerodrome-A History- by David Oliver

 

It looks like we have another WW2 Casualty in our family. I found the Death notice for John Noel Laughton Isaac with this lovely photo of him, inside a book of my Father's (Mervyn W Thomas).
John was the nephew of Dad's Grandmother, Kate Isaac.
It's a sad end for a fine young man. He was the only son of Kate's brother Wilfred.

 

Rather poignantly, his father, Wilfred, died on 3rd September 1953
Family Group Sheet for Wilfred John Isaac / Rosalind Mary Featherstonhaugh (F2651) m. 2 Jun 1908 : Featherstone Family History
From this website, John seems to have 3 rather unenviable "records"
Remember Them
Remember. Pilot Officer John Noel Laughton ISAAC. No.600 Squadron, Royal Air Force. Killed in a Flying Accident on the 3rd September 1939 aged 28.

John was the son of Wilfrid John and Rosalind Mary Isaac, of Cardiff. In civilian life he was a well regarded solicitor. On Sunday 3rd September 1939, an hour and a half after Neville Chamberlain had declared war with Germany, John was at the controls of a Blenheim Mk 1f fighter (L1164) which was on a solo training flight from RAF Hendon, practising single engine landings. As he made a return approach to the airfield he stalled the aircraft and crashed near The Burroughs, Hendon, and was killed instantly. John is not only believed to be the first serviceman killed in the Second World War, but is also believed to be the first serviceman to be cremated during that conflict and the first Jewish casualty. His name is recorded on the Golders Green Crematorium, London.

I'm a bit curious as to the "Laughton" part of his name, as that's a village near me in East Sussex connected to the Pelham family, which seems totally unconnected to the Isaac or Featherstonehaugh families of his parents.

 

His sister also had Laughton in her name

Mary Laughton Isaac
1909–1993
BIRTH 24 JUN 1909 • Dinas Powis, Glamorgan, Wales
DEATH NOV 1993 • Westminster, London, England

TD

 

I wonder how John was in a situation where "he stalled" the plane? If he was practicing a single engine landing, he wouldn't want to stall. Does anyone know about the person he killed when he crashed? Very sad.

 

see the above post no 6 and attachments
nothing on the other casualty

 

Barbara

Not being a pilot , I read in the report (the conclusion by Vernonn Brown) something that should not be done when running only one engine (on a 2 engined plane) is to turn towards a dead engine. I would assume that then derates the only working engine on the outside of the turn and reduces power all the more leading to loss of air speed (a stall)
Do we have any members that are/were pilots??

TD