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This story has been added by CSV volunteer Linda Clark on behalf of the author Kenneth H Rickard. It is an extract from a book he wrote in 2004 called 'St Dennis and Goss Moor' published by Halsgrove of Tiverton, Devon. They fully understand the site's terms and conditions.

There were several aircraft crashes near Cornwall's airfields. As a young lad, the author visited the scene of two such incidents on his bicycle. The first of these occurred on 21 April 1941 at 3.35a.m. on Providence Farm, just below Castle-an-Dinas. The aircraft was a Lockhead Hudson 'C' of 206 Squadron, St Eval and had been flying out for patrol duties over the Channel when it suffered engine failure and crashed on a hill-side killing all four crew members. As it lost height, the aircraft narrowly missed the farmhouse at Providence and ploughed a path through the farmyard trees. When the author arrived next morning the scene, as seen from the next field, was the still smouldering wreckage with lots of white foam around it and a distinctive smell. An RAF fire tender was present as were two or three other RAF vehicles. The aircraft was still armed and three unexploded bombs were in the field, so armed RAF guards kept sightseers away. An account of the second crash has been supplied by some people involved, also Mr L.R. Holmes, M.B.E. of the Cornish Aviation Society.
On 19 May 1943 Hudson 111A FH168 of 38 Wing RAF took off from RAF St Eval bound for the Middle East. The aircraft had previously taken off from its base at RAF Netheravon in Wiltshire and had only landed at RAF St Eval to top up with fuel for its long-haul journey. 38 Wing RAF had been formed at Netheravon to provide a link with the Ist Parachute Brigade at Bulford Camp and this link was to prove fatal for the Hudson's most senior passenger. The Hudson was the military version of the American 11-seat Lockhead 14, known as the 'Electra'. It had two Wright Cyclone engines, twin fins and a rudder. The Hudson normally carried a crew of four (pilot, navigator and two air gunners/wireless operators). It was also fired with two Browning machine-guns that fitted through the nose, plus a twin - dorsal turret and a twin-ventral turret in the floor of the aircraft.
The pilot was Flt/Lt R. H. Jesse, navigator pilot officer Arthur Rotenburg and the wireless operator/air gunner was Flt/Sgt G Russell. The four other occupants were passengers and included Wing Commander R. W. Hurst, Squadron Leader E. W Armstrong and Corporal H. A. Palmer. The highest ranking officer on board was Air Commodore Sir Nigel St Valery Norman, CBE, baronet and son of Rt Hon. Sir Hendry Norman PC, JP. who was about to join 38 Wing Army Cooperation Unit in connection with airborne troops and prepare for possible attacks on Sicily. He had just been appointed to Air Chief Marshal Sir A W Tedder's staff and was to attend an Airborne Forces Planning Conference in the Middle East. It is believed that Sir Nigel may have been piloting the aircraft. Most of the crew were French-Canadian in the Royal Canadian Air Force. At the same time the Hudson FH168 took off from St Eval, Chief Observer George Gregory was well into his duty watch at the St Columb ROC post. Meanwhile, local farmers William (Bill) Richards and Eddie Thomas left Crogoes Farm, to the south of St Columb and proceeded to a large wheat field some 400 yards to the east to spread fertiliser. Almost certainly the St Columb Royal Observer Corps crew were tracking the Hudson by this time, as it came within the vicinity. Bill and Eddie heard a spluttering sound and saw an aircraft in distress. One engine was already on fire. The aircraft dipped to the left and lost height and seemed to head straight for them.
It was clear that shortly after the take-off the Hudson had lost power in the port engine and was attempting a forced landing in a field at Crugoes Farm, Blackcross, about 180m south west of the St Columb Royal Observer Corps post.
Bill and Eddie dived for cover under the fertilizer wagon as the plane just cleared a hedge, hit the ground, bounced and slewed across the field in which they worked. A wing broke off, as did part of the tail and the aircraft ended up partly on top of a hedge. The time was just after 9.50p.m. Mrs Bula Prowse, who lived next door to George Gregory at Little Quoit, recalls hearing the Hudson crash. She ran out to see the aircraft burning 'with bullets exploding all over the place, it was spectacular'.
Initially there was little fire, although the left-hand wing was broken and beginning to burn. The right-hand wing was almost over a gate, which caused part of the aircraft to be off the ground. Bill and Eddie were quickly on the scene, as was Royal Observer member George Gregory.
Two occupants exited the aircraft through a hole in the underside. Fire was beginning to take hold whilst Bill and Eddie looked after the two injured survivors. George Gregory was personally responsible for rescuing four additional members of the crew. George's promptness in obtaining medical aid no doubt helped save lives. All the survivors were suffering from broken limbs. After the rescue of the six members of the crew, the aircraft burst into flames.
Bill Richards claimed that he remembered seeing the last occupant, Air Commodore Sir Nigel Norman fighting to get out of the burning cockpit. Until the day he died, Bill Richards maintained that Sir Norman did not die in the crash itself and with courage, it may have been possible to save him. However, as the fire had taken hold, no further rescue attempts were made - Sir Nigel Norman died in the blaze. In contrast to Bill Richards' account of Sir Normans death there is one report which states that he was thrown clear of the aircraft but died of a broken neck. Bill recalled tracer bullets going off all over the place and feeling sick with the smell of burning flesh. Within 20 minutes the emergency services had arrived. Many local people, including George Collins, Mr Batten, Don Retallick and the Dales came to the site. Two fire-engines arrived, including one from St Columb, but in order to enter the field a large stone gatepost, had to be taken out using a horse. As the fire brigade dampened down the burning wreck the RAF Regiment Police arrived to stand guard. Within 30 minutes the aircraft had burnt out. After three days the remaining wreckage was carted away by the RAF and after a week virtually all signs of the crash had disappeared. The navigator pilot Arthur Rotenburg died of his injuries a few hours later in the hospital at St Eval airfield. A few days after the crash Sir Nigel Norman's wife Patricia, came to see Bill Richards to thank him for all his efforts following the crash. At the subsequent RAF enquiry, fuel starvation to the port engine was thought to be the most probable cause of the crash.
Throughout the remainder of the war George Gregory carried out his duties on the post with marked efficiency. On 28 May 1945 the Western Area Commandant, Observer Captain J W Sanders recommended him for the British Empire Medal for his brave actions in 1943 and for his ROC work. It was the first BEM awarded to a member of the Royal Observer Corps in Cornwall.

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