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| Pilot Officer George Ernest VILLIERS | |
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600 Squadron, Royal Auxiliary Air Force Date of birth: 16th April 1912 Date of death: 7th June 1930 Killed on active service aged 18 Buried at St Michael's and All Angels Church, Coombe Bissett |
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| George Ernest Villiers was born at Chichester on the 17th of April 1912 the son of the Reverend Ernest Amherst Villiers and the Hon. Elaine Augusta (nee Guest) of Hambrook House near Chichester, later of Speen Court, Newbury in Berkshire and of Homington House, Coombe Bissett, Salisbury in Wiltshire. He was christened at Funtington on the 9th of June 1912. He was educated at Lancing College where he was in Manor House from January to December 1927. He achieved his Royal Aero Club Certificate (No. 8561) on the 17th of April 1929 at the Hampshire Aero Club flying a DH60 30/80 hp Cirrus II. He was commissioned as a Pilot Officer in the Royal Auxiliary Air Force on the 17th of March 1930 and was posted to 600 Squadron. At 7pm on the 7th of June 1930, George Villiers andand his passenger, Henry Winch, took off from Hendon airfield in Blackburn Bluebird Mk IV G-AASU for a pleasure flight in the local area. After taking off the aircraft was seen to turn through 180 degrees before flying downwind. As it had just flown past the western boundary of the airfield it was seen to: - "Fall over to the left and dive into the ground", killing George Villiers and injuring Henry Winch. An enquiry was held into the crash which reported on the 14th of July 1930. The report noted that George Villiers had accumulated 150 flying hours as a civilian and 17 more with the Royal Auxiliary Air Force. It was also noted that although he had flown the aircraft type before, he had only done so with an instructor and that this had been the first occasion on which he had flown it solo. It concluded that: - "The accident was due to an error of judgement, on the part of the pilot, causing the aircraft to stall." |
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| Manor House |
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