Beaufighter R2335 was fitted with Merlin XX engines 25985 and 26071, the latter being the engine I now run. The aircraft served during 1941 with the Fighter Interception Unit, based at Ford Airfield, near Chichester, West Sussex. It was employed as a radar equipment test-bed, in particular AI, or Airborne Interception (seeing other planes at night).
On the night of 3rd September 1941, the pilot, Flying Officer Donald lake discovered that the undercarriage would not lock in the lowered position. The decision was taken to shake the undercarriage down by means of aerobatic manouvres at about 8000ft.
The FIU had many excellent pilots, noted for their night-fighting abilities, such as the legendary John "Cats Eyes" Cunningham.
Despite this, the aeroplane became out of control, entering an uncontrolled dive from which the crew had no means of escape, and crashed 4 miles west of the airfield into a disused canal bed.
The site was excavated during 1978, the engines and propellers being recovered, and much of the remaining wreckage scrapped.
After a restoration project lasting some 3000 hours, Merlin 26071 ran once again early in 2000, a living memorial to the three airmen listed below, and all who lost their lives in this conflict.
Roll Of Honour
Pilot Flying Officer Donald Millar Lake Age 20
Navigator Flight Sergeant Frank Edward Greaney Age 20
Technician Flight Sergeant John Edward Bignell Age 23
Flying Officer Lake was by no means inexperienced, having a total of 668 flying hours, 192 of which were on Beaufighter Mk IIF aircraft. . . . all at 20 years of age.
