Wright (H W)

Killed in aircraft accident, petrol leak, cockpit burst into flames Mtubatuba, in Lockheed B-34 Ventura II #6107. Ditched in the Indian Ocean 8km east of Umkomaas due to double engine failure. Two P-40 Kittyhawks from 10 Sqn, an Anson and a Battle proceeded to the area to search for possible survivors. All four crew members wearing Mae West were seen to enter the water and at approximately 20:35. Major Brierley and Sgt McIver were rescued by a Durban based crash boat R1. Major Brierley stated that the other two crew members were close by, but in the fading light they could not be found. The search continued the next day, after Lt Jacks thought he observed a man in the water he fired a burst across the bows of the rescue vessel, though in doing so lost sight of the man. These two members of the crew that went missing were 22 Squadrons first losses