Gordon Grieve Warner

A Leading Aircraftman with the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, Gordon died on 25th of November 1942 aged 25. 

Gordon was born at Lowestoft on 16 October 1917, a son of James Harry and Rennie Warner. In 1921 his family lived at 81 Beresford Road and by 1939 they were living at 50 Beccles Road, Oulton Broad. In 1941 Gordon married Hazel Bird; this was registered in the Lothingland district. 

By 1939 Gordon was a Police Constable based at The Police Station, New Street, Chelmsford, Essex. Gordon enlisted in the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve after August 1940.  

In November 1942 Gordon was in the United States undergoing training as a pilot at the Basic Flying School, Gunter Field, Alabama. 

On 25 November he was flying a Valiant BT-13A aircraft, serial 41-21551. During the flight, primarily for instrument training, Gordon was the ‘handling pilot’. The aircraft was used for unauthorised aerobatic manoeuvres including a spiral dive. In trying to recover from the spiral dive the aircraft struck trees and crashed about six miles north of Mount Meigs. Gordon was thrown from the aircraft on impact and died, the other pilot under training survived. 

WITH THANKS TO: Malcolm Barrass