Voysey, R L (Russel Lawrence)
Voysey, R L (Russel Lawrence)
Sub-Lieutenant (A) Russel Lawrence Voysey was the son of Walter Alexander Voysey and of Gladys Kathleen Voysey (nee McCabe), of Thames, Auckland, New Zealand.
On the 28th of June 1945, onboard USNAS Brunswick[1] there was an accident involving a Fighter/Bomber, Corsair, KD796.[2] While taxiing his plane, Sub-Lieutenant W.P.A. Goodman of the Royal Navy Volunteer Reserves, 1853 squadron swung the tail of the plane and struck the folded wing of another aircraft causing extensive damage, luckily though, there were no injuries.
A few months later, squadron 1853 was in England and they were disbanded on the 15th of August. A few days prior to this event, on the 9th saw the formation of 794 Squadron at Eglinton Airfield in Londonderry. The squadron had several different aircraft. One of them though was the Chance Vought Corsair, KD796.
During the 7th of November 1945, Corsair KD796 of 794 Squadron, Eglinton took off for a training flight. While flying north of Magilligan Point, the engine burst into flames and the plane ditched.
The pilot was Sub-Lieutenant (A), Russel Lawrence Voysey of the Royal New Zealand Navy Volunteer Reserves, age 21, from Auckland New Zealand. He was unable to escape, and it was not until the 11th of November that his body would be recovered. He was laid to rest with a full military funeral a few days later.
Date of Death: Died 07/11/1945 (Aged 21)
Service: Sub-Lieutenant (A), 794 Squadron, H.M.S. Heron, Royal New Zealand Naval Volunteer Reserve
Service Number: 432112
Burial Location: Faughanvale (Saint Canice) Church of Ireland Churchyard, Grave 21.
[1] United States Naval Air Station (USNAS) Brunswick, Maine, was a land base that opened between 1943 and 1946.
[2] Chance Vought Corsair was an American Fighter/Bomber plane that took its first flight during May 1940. It was primarily used on aircraft carriers. The fighter would remain in service with the United States services until 1953.
