Jim Clint lives in Kirkistown, County Down, Ireland. His late father often told him the story of witnessing an air crash during WW2 there in Northern Ireland. One of the pilots killed was Sub Lt RJ Mathers RNVR age 21 from Orpington Kent. He is buried in Belfast City Cemetery. Jim's father was 15 years old then and was working in his father's field at Kirkistown when the aircraft failed to climb after a turn and hit a ditch close to where he was working. A worker tried but was unable to rescue the two men from the plane. Both pilots were badly burned. The other pilot, Sub-Lieutenant William Foster, died on 24th November and Sub Lt RJ Mathers died the next day. Both airmen were based at RAF Kirkistown Co Down. If there are any relations of John Richard Mathers (or is it Richard John?) still living in Orpington today, please get in touch. Below are links to further information: Record of RJ Mathers Report of the crash (first entry)
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