Fraser E E (Ernest Edward)
Sergeant Ernest Edward Fraser was the son of John and Louisa Fraser; husband of Helena Fraser, of Kilburn, Middlesex.
On the 12th of April 1942, a Lockheed Hudson III[1] (V9112), was taking part in the secretive 1527 “Beam Approach[2]” training flight from Prestwick in the southwest Scotland.
While flying over Northern Ireland’s north coast the flight had run into difficulty and their plane came down near the Glenmakeeran Road, 5 miles southeast of Ballycastle. The plane crashed and all four onboard were killed.
The casualties were, this airman, Sergeant Ernest Fraser, Captain Frederick E. Matson (from the United States) and Flying Officer (Bomb Aimer Instructor) James Wheadon MacDougal. They are all buried in Drumachose, Christ Church, Church of Ireland Churchyard. There possibly maybe a 4th but any associations have been dismissed.
Date of Death: 12/04/1942 (Aged 29)
Service: Sergeant (Pilot), Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, 1527 BAT Flight.
Service Number: 1377103
Burial Location: Grave 3.
[1] Lockheed Hudson III is an American built light bomber which first flew during December 1938 and was introduced to service and the RAF just two months later.
[2] Beam approach beacon system (BABS) is an automatic radar landing system developed in the early 1940s.