Kate Wills Posted 14 August , 2004 Share Posted 14 August , 2004 One of the men I am researching is: Second Lieutenant EDWARD JOSEPH DILLON MM 7th Training Depot Station., Royal Air Force who died age 23 on 12 April 1918 Son of Mr. and Mrs. J. T. Dillon, of 149, Walm Lane, Willesden Green, London. Born at St. Mary Cray, Kent. Remembered with honour KENSAL GREEN (ST. MARY'S) ROMAN CATHOLIC CEMETERY Can anyone tell me where 7th TDStn was located, and details of his death please? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dolphin Posted 14 August , 2004 Share Posted 14 August , 2004 Kate No 7 Training Depot Station was at Feltwell, and was part of the RAF's 39th Wing in the Midland Area Command. 2Lt Edward Joseph Dillon, formerly of the RAMC, and 2Lt William Cecil Hield were killed in an accident while flying in Avro 504 C581 on 12 April 1918. C581 could have been a 504A, a 504J or a 504K, as all three variants were produced in batch C551-C750 built by The Humber Motor Company Ltd. A photograph of an Avro 504K is below. I hope this helps. Gareth Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kate Wills Posted 15 August , 2004 Author Share Posted 15 August , 2004 Gareth I wondered if you might fly to my rescue, and you have done so in style! Thankyou. I had to look up Feltwell, which is near Thetford in west Norfolk. This link tells me No 7 was opened in 1917 and mentions these aircraft: SE5 DH4 DH9 Avro 504A Avro 504J BE2e Sopwith Pup http://www.feltwell.org.uk/articles/rafhistory.htm Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest epsomgreen Posted 6 February , 2015 Share Posted 6 February , 2015 I have also been researching Dillon as I possess his Military Medal.According to his AIR/76/134 service record, Dillon had flown the Wright Avro (504 platform), Sopwith Bomber (B.1), Sopwith Scout ("Pup"), B.E.12, D.H.5, and S.E.5. At the time of his fatal "aero accident," Dillon was an assistant instructor at No. 7 TDS. Charles Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mickdavis Posted 6 February , 2015 Share Posted 6 February , 2015 7 TRAINING DEPOT STATION RFC/RAF Base Nucleus flights formed 15.10.1917 at Montrose (A Flt from 18 TS), Joyce Green (B Flt from 63 TS) and Castle Bromwich (C Flt from 28 TS). Unit established when flights moved to Feltwell in 39th Wing 1.11.1917. Establishment set Autumn 1918 at 36 DH4/9 + 36 Avro. Disbanded 22.4.1919. Commanding Officers Representative Aeroplanes AMC DH9 B9361, C1155, D1160, D5610, E6888. Avro 504A/J/K B3124, B3125, B4254, B4307, B4341, B4343, B4354, B8819, B9993, C581, C5821, C9986, D24, E3134, E4130, H8289, H8290. RAF BE2e C9987. Sopwith Pup B1784, B5383, B6026, B6140, C299, C9990, C9991. Sopwith F1 Camel B3847, B4640, B7308, B7321, B9226, B9286, B9328, C8311, D9544, D9545. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarkTurner Posted 8 February , 2015 Share Posted 8 February , 2015 The inquest was reported in the Norfolk Chronicle 19 April 1918 under the heading DOUBLE FLYING FATALITY An inquest was held in an Eastern Counties village on Saturday touching the deaths of Sec-Lieuts Joseph A Dillon (23) and William Cecil Hield (24) who met their deaths in a flying accident the previous day. Sergt Herbert Charles Ansombe RAF stated that the machine used by the deceased was tested before being used in the flight and was in perfect order. Lieut Dillon was an instructor and Lieut Hield was a pupil. Previous to the fatal flight both officers had been up together in the same machine. Corpl Hall Green of the US Army said the machine which was running perfectly made a good taking off in the correct direction. The machine at a height of about 200ft was climbing when it appeared to try to turn. Suddenly it tipped over and dropped straight down nose forward until about 60 or 70 feet from the ground when it commended to spin and reached the earth. Capt H M Sisson RAF said he was of the opinion that the machine was "stalled" when doing a climbing turn and losing her flying speed nose dived to the earth. Verdict: Accidentally killed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kate Wills Posted 8 February , 2015 Author Share Posted 8 February , 2015 Thankyou chaps. It's good to see this thread take on new life a decade after first posting. Dillon, an insurance clerk, was a very popular NCO on 85th FA RAMC, who made quite a name for himself playing the heroine in 85th's annual pantomimes in Salonika. In 1917, a call went out for suitable men in the RAMC to join combattant units (more can be found about this scheme elsewhere on the GWF). Dillon applied to the RFC. I understand he spent some time on the Western Front before posting as a flying instuctor. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest epsomgreen Posted 8 February , 2015 Share Posted 8 February , 2015 Thank you, Mark! 2/Lt Hield's Service Record provides an Outgoing Authority of 2355/1918 for the proceedings of the court of inquiry, but I was unable to learn the outcome — until now.This is Dillon's MM: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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