Operation: Wing Air Exercise

Date: 11th November 1943 (Thursday)

Unit: No. 886 Squadron FAA (3rd Naval Fighter Wing)

Type: Seafire L.IIC

Serial: LR693

Code: Not Issued

Base: HMS Ringtail, Burscough, Lancashire

Location: Yealand Redmayne, Lancashire

Pilot: Sub/Lt. Ralph Austin Colbeck RNZNVR Age 21. Killed

REASON FOR LOSS:

During a low level wing formation exercise two Seafires collided with the aircraft crashing at Yealand Redmayne. The other Seafire NM929 from the same base but with 808 squadron also crashed killing 23 year old, Sub/Lt. Eric Alwyn Philpott.

Burial details:

Sub/Lt. Ralph Austin Colbeck. Burscough Bridge Churchyard (St. John The Baptist). Sec. E. Grave 2566. Son of Wilfred Howard Buckley Colbeck and of Mary Winifred Colbeck (née Clarke), of Puru, Auckland, New Zealand. No grave inscription as the New Zealand Government at the time set a precedent that due to charges being levied, some families may not be able to afford this - consequently no New Zealand CWGC are inscribed. For further information please see "Your Relatives CWGC Details Explained".

Sub/Lt. Eric Alwyn Philpott. Arnold Cemetery. Class A. Cons. Grave 121. Son of Henry and Amy Etta Philpott, of Woodthorpe, Nottingham, England. Grave inscription reads: "Life Is All The Sweeter That He Lived".

Thanks to Medals Reunited New Zealand for bringing this loss to our attention.

Researched and dedicated to the relatives of this pilot with thanks to the research by Errol Martyn and his publications: “For Your Tomorrow Vols. 1-3”, Auckland War Memorial Museum, Weekly News of New Zealand, other sources as quoted below:

At the going down of the sun, and in the morning we will remember them. - Laurence Binyon
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