Pilot Officer Michael John MORTIMER (102157)
255 Squadron Royal Air Force

Date of birth: 26th October 1914
Date of death: 15th January 1942

Killed in action aged 27
Buried at Scottow Cemetery in Norfolk Grave 268
Michael John Mortimer was born at Christchurch in New Zealand on the 26th of October 1914 the eldest son of the Reverend John Lawrence Mortimer,Vicar of Caversham, and of Helen Ida (nee Burton) Mortimer, Principal of Elmhurst Ballet School, of “Elmhurst”, Camberley in Surrey. He spent his early years in New Zealand but the family returned to England in 1922 following the death of his father there on the 20th of March 1920.

He was educated at Lancing College where he was in Heads House from September 1928 to July 1933. He served as a Sergeant in the Officer Training Corps and gained his School Certificate in 1932. He was appointed as a House Captain in 1932. He went on to St Edmund Hall, Oxford where he achieved a BA.

He enlisted in the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve with the rank of Leading Aircraftman and was commissioned as a Pilot Officer on the 30th of July 1941.He was posted to 255 Squadron which was based at RAF Coltishall operating Beaufighter aircraft in defence of the Midlands.

On the 15th of January 1942 the Controller at RAF Coltishall required operational patrols to be mounted, as the radar indicated the precence of a number of unidentified plots in the area which were assumed to be hostile aircraft. The weather was quite poor with cloud and limited visibility leading to the cancellation of training flights with only operational flights permitted. There was some improvement in the visibility later in the evening when Michael Mortimer and his Observer took off from RAF Coltishall at 9pm in Beaufighter Mk IIF R2448 for a nightime patrol. He had 40.40 hours of flying experience on the aircraft type and 176.25 hours of total solo flying, as well as, 46 hours of night flying experience of which 12.30 were on the aircraft type and had 10.25 hours of instrument flying.

On its return to base Michael Mortimer found the airfield lights but asked for asistance with his approach and was on the radio for thirteen minutes during his descent. This is thought to have been because he may have had reduced visibility through his windscreen due to icing. There was also a 20mph crosswind across the flarepath. At 11.59pm, when near the airfield, the aircraft spun into the ground and crashed into a wooded area between Cawston and Aylsham where it burst into flames, killing both of the crew.

The crew was: -
Pilot Officer Michael John Mortimer (Pilot)
Sergeant Geoffrey Bedford (Wireless Operator/Observer)

His mother received the following letter dated the 20th of January 1942: - "Madam, I am commanded by the Air Council to express to you their great regret on learning that your son Pilot Officer Michael John Mortimer, Royal Air Force, lost his life as the result of air operations on 15th January 1942. The Air Council desire me to convey to you an expression of their profound sympathy with you in your bereavement."

A number of eyewitness accounts of the accident were taken: -

Mr. A.G. Gibbs, Hall Farm, Haveringland: - "Was awoken at approximately midnight by the sound of an aircraft flying very low. The aircraft seemed to be flying in a southerly direction. Immediately afterwards sound of a crash followed by explosion. Aircraft seemed very low indeed and the house windows shook. Thought engines sputtered prior to crash."

Mr. N.B. Howard, New Street, Cawston: - "Lives approximately 1 mile due north of scene of crash. Was awoken by sound of an aircraft. The noise of the engines made him think that the aircraft was very low and to the east of his house. Engines appeared to be throbbing. Heard sound of a crash, and when he looked out he saw flames to the south."

2nd Lieutenant Pearson, 59th Company, Royal Engineers: - "Was in a truck proceeding towards Haveringland House. Heard an aircraft that seemed to pass over the top of the truck. Followed by a crash. When he arrived at scene of crash aircraft was burning and ammunition exploding."

Sapper Holland, 59th Company, Royal Engineers: - "Was in back of truck proceeding to Haveringland House. The truck had come from Norwich. Heard aircraft pass very low over the top of the truck and then the engines sputtered followed within a short time (2 to 3 seconds) by a crash. Ran to the crash. Could not get within 15 yards due to ammunition exploding and heat of fire. Through hole in cover of truck thought he saw the shape of an aeroplane. Whilst coming from Norwich had not heard any aircraft. At the time, however, he was busy talking."

Major Wadsworth, 59th Company Royal Engineers: - "Was in bed on south side of Haveringland House. Heard an aircraft that appeared to be circling to the south of the house, with sounds of the engines appearing to fade and pick up again. The aeroplane then appeared to pass over the top of the house and then crash. The blackout shutters were in place in the room and the windows shut. Was awake when he first heard aircraft."

Aircraftman Staff, Motor Transport Driver, RAF Station Horsham St Faith: - "Shortly before the accident the aircraft passed over south beacon from the direction of Cotishall aerodrome. It appeared to return still south of the beacon and then began a left hand circuit of the beacon flying from south to north. It seemed that the aircraft had completed approx. half of the circuit of the beacon when the engines roared up and then sputtered. This was immediately followed by the crash and fire."

The Wing Commander, Commanding RAF Station, Coltishall wrote, on the 18th of January 1942: - "I visited the scene of the accident soon after it happened in company with the Squadron Engineer Officer, but owing to the darkness it was difficult to form an opinion of what had occurred. S/Lder. Foreman, the Group Engineer Officer, in company with the Station Engineer Officer, visited the accident next day, however, and it was their opinion that engine failure did not occur and that the aircraft spun into the ground. From a study of the reports attached to the Squadron Commander's report, and questioning of the various personnel concerned, I am in full agreement with the opinion of the Squadron Commader - that the accident was primarily thorugh an error of judgement on the part of the pilot when flying on instruments. The weather conditions were by no means ideal, but at no time during the night was the weather considered to be non-operational."

His mother wrote a play in his memory called "Ye Serve the Lord Christ" which was performed at Southwark Cathedral in 1945 and at Elmhurst School every year until 1980.

He is commemorated on the war memorial at St Edmund Hall, Oxford.

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