Flying Officer ROSWELL MURRAY MACTAVISH

Photo source : 439 Sqn archives PL28801

As the pilots went down to the dispersal on the morning of the 12th they saw the advance party forming up on the perimeter of the airfield. “We are finally getting under way and can’t get down south too soon."  The main party moved out two days later and on the 18th, after some delay due to the weather, the air party of seven Typhoons and eleven Hurricanes took off from Ayr to fly to Hurn by way of Woodvale (near Liverpool).  The group of Tiffies led by Norsworthy reached their destination without incident, but the Hurricanes had bad luck.

A few minutes after leaving Ayr, while the formation was flying at 3000 feet between two layers of cloud, F/O R.M. MacTavish's aircraft was seen to nose over and head straight down into the clouds.  The Hurricane crashed near Loch Doon and the pilot was killed.  "Mac was a grand fellow, popular with everyone ... It's rather difficult to express just how much his presence will be missed." He had been with the Squadron over a year. Investigation of the accident suggested that it might have been caused by accidental inflation of the pilot's dinghy which forced the control column sharply forward and made it impossible for the pilot to extract a knife from his flying-boot.

Scene of the crash site: The force with which F/O MacTavish's aircraft struck the ground can still be seen today, near Loch Doon,  Scotland, 

Photo source : Scottish Aircraft Wreck Sites . Used with permission. Neil Daniel 

In the two months of training, 14 January to 16 March, the pilots of No. 439 Squadron had flown more than 1040 hours on their Hurricanes and Typhoons.  Now they were ready for action.

 

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