Flying Officer Cyril George William MOORE (84000)
5 Service Flight Training School, Royal Air Force

Date of birth: 20th May 1918
Date of death: 26th April 1941

Killed on active service aged 22
Buried at Bournemouth East Cemetery Plot L Row 5 Grave 160
Cyril George William Moore was born at Vicars Hill, Boldre, Lymington in Hampshire on the 20th of May 1918 the son of George Guy Moore, a private tutor, and Vera Helen (nee Mylrea) Moore of 16 Broomfield Court, Sunningdale in Berkshire.

He was educated at Lancing College where he was in Fields House from May 1932 to July 1934. He was a member of the Officer Training Corps.

He was married at Salisbury in 1938 to Josephine Phyllis Marie (nee Rice). They lived at 56 Shropshire Street, Market Drayton in Shropshire. They had a son, Cyril G.M., born on the 7th of September 1941.

He was commisioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the Royal Tank Regiment (Supplementary Reserve of Officers) on the 8th of January 1938 and resigned his commission on the 2nd of February 1939. He was commissioned as a Pilot Officer in the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve on the 28th of August 1940, with seniority from the 18th of August. He was posted as an instructor to 5 Service Flight Training School based at RAF Tern Hill in Shropshire. Due to pressure on the facilities at Tern Hill he was operating from RAF Cosford.

At 2.10 pm on the 26th of April 1941 Cyril Moore took off from RAF Cosford in Miles Master Mk 1 T8757 for a training flight with his student, Leading Aircraftman Arthur Naylor. The flying conditions were described as windy and "bumpy". When the aircraft had reached a height of 500 feet the engine failed and, as they looked for a suitable landing ground, the aircraft "whipstalled" at 150 feet causing a loss of control. It crashed into the ground three miles to the east of the airfield and burnt out killing both men. Their bodies were taken to Cosford Mortuary.

His wife received the following letter dated the 28th of April 1941: - "Madam, I am commanded by the Air Council to express to you their great regret on learning that your husband, Flying Officer Cyril George WIlliam Moore, Royal Air Force, lost his life as the result of an aircraft accident on 26th April 1941. The Air Council desire me to express their profound sympathy with you in your bereavement."

His funeral took place on the 1st of May 1941.

He is commemorated on the war memorial at St Peter's Church, Shurdington in Gloucestershire.

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