Spitfire mid-air collision Warkworth 1943

[Coquet]

The Acklington RAF Station Record Book records a mid-air collision of two Spitfire aircraft near Warkworth, on the 17th March 1943. Acklington sent their fire tender and ambulance , but the planes were from Eshott, So the Acklington book does not go into much detail:

"A message was received from H.Q. 13 Group at 1418 hours saying that 2 Spitfires had collided in mid-air and had crashed in flames near Warkworth. The ambulance and fire tender departed to the scene. These aircraft belonged to Eshott who took all necessary action and arranged for the removal of the bodies."


Cannot find much on the internet on this event. There's one Czech airman in Chevington cemetery of 57 O.T.U., with the above date of death.

[Graeme]

Sgt Ladislaw KOROUREK (787343) (Czech) in Spitfire Mk.I X4266 from 57 OTU, RAF Eshott, collided in mid-air with Spitfire Mk.I AR222. Korourek was killed when possibly trying to attempt a forced-landing at Broderick Farm (sic), Warkworth in his damaged aircraft. It went through a hedgerow and as it did so, the cockpit section apparently broke free of the airframe, leaving the pilot's body on top of the hedge. The farmer, Mr Foster, later helped RAF personnel dig out the aircraft's Merlin engine which had buried itself ten feet down.

The mention of "Broderick Farm" presumably relates to Brotherwick.

Sgt Korourek is buried at Chevington and his grave would have been the one you saw.

AR222 crashed nearby and was destroyed by fire. An RAF recovery team - possibly from No.83 Maintenance Unit, RAF Woolsington (now Newcastle Airport), removed the wreckage from both crash sites.

Both X4266 and AR222 would have been fairly "clapped-out" Spits, having long been relegated from front-line duties (which by 1943 would have been flying Spitfire Mk.XIs).

Graeme

[Coquet]

Many thanks Graeme, most interesting (and tragic).
Any info on the other pilot?

[hollydog]

Originally Posted by Graeme

Sgt Ladislaw KOROUREK (787343) (Czech) in Spitfire Mk.I X4266 from 57 OTU, RAF Eshott, collided in mid-air with Spitfire Mk.I AR222. Korourek was killed when possibly trying to attempt a forced-landing at Broderick Farm (sic), Warkworth in his damaged aircraft. It went through a hedgerow and as it did so, the cockpit section apparently broke free of the airframe, leaving the pilot's body on top of the hedge. The farmer, Mr Foster, later helped RAF personnel dig out the aircraft's Merlin engine which had buried itself ten feet down.

The mention of "Broderick Farm" presumably relates to Brotherwick.

Sgt Korourek is buried at Chevington and his grave would have been the one you saw.

AR222 crashed nearby and was destroyed by fire. An RAF recovery team - possibly from No.83 Maintenance Unit, RAF Woolsington (now Newcastle Airport), removed the wreckage from both crash sites.

Both X4266 and AR222 would have been fairly "clapped-out" Spits, having long been relegated from front-line duties (which by 1943 would have been flying Spitfire Mk.XIs).

Graeme

To confirm, Jimmy Foster farmed Brotherwick farm upto the 70s when the current tenants took over. He lived in the end terrace next to the railway bridge and used to "show" shirehorses. My grandparents farmed the next door farm so I have a good idea which was his land (by the way my grandmother's sister was Norah Robson of Cliffhouse Farm Togston who had their own tragedy later that year in December 1943)
Unfortunately, my grandparents are not around to ask as they would certainly have known exactly where the aircraft crashed.

[Graeme]

I believe the pilot of Spitfire Mk.I AR222 was French but have no further details at present.

[Chris D]

Hi, Coquet, Hollydog and Graeme.

The pilot of the second aircraft Spitfire AR222 was;
35104 Sous Lieutenant (P/O) Jean Barthélémy Nemoz, Free French Air Force, 57 Operational Training Unit RAF Eshott, aged 25 +
He was originally buried on the same day as Sgt Korourek, 21st March 1943 at Chevington Cemetery, Red Row. On the 25th October 1948 at 11.25am, on the authority of the Home Office and Coroner, the remains of Sous Lieutenant Nemoz were exhumed for reburial in France. I believe he was re-interred at Sorgues (Vaucluse), the south of France.

Jim Forster took over Brotherwick Farm, however, he was present at the farm at the tender age of 14 when the accident happened.

I hope to visit the sites this week and find confirmation of the exact locations.

Chris
Chris R Davies
Almost Forgotten
The Search For Aviation Accidents In Northumberland
(Amberley Books, out now)

[hollydog]

Hi Chris D

Welcome to the forum and thanks for the post. We, as you gather are very interested in local aviation and if I can help in any way on your quest just ask.
Good luck with the search and please let us know the outcome - or where to buy the book!