The Lockheed Hudson Mark 1, Id No. N7227 ('ZS-Y') of 233 Squadron, RAF left Leuchars at 14:20 hours. According to the RAF it was written off (destroyed) 10th of October 1939 at 19:40 hours when flying at low level in poor visibility with a low cloud base. The aircraft was returning from a recon mission along the Norwegian Coast. It is rumoured they encountered German Aircraft in the North Sea and the crew were injured. Too low, the twin engine airplane impacted the ground at Drums, 1.5 miles South of Freuchie, Fife, Scotland. Fire broke out immediately on impact, and the wreckage was distributed over a wide area. All four crew were killed instantly.

 

Pilot: Service No. 39272 Flying Officer, Charles ("Charlie") Hampton Clark RAF.

Co-pilot: Service No. 41436 Pilot Officer, William Edward Lockley RAF.

Wireless Operator: Service No. 550711 AC1, Basil Norman Blades

RAF. Service No. 20399 AC2, William McKelvie Cochrane RAF.

 

F/O Charles Clark, a New Zealander from Wellington and P/O. William Lockley, an Australian are buried in Leuchars Cemetery, Fife, Scotland. AC.1 Basil Blades was taken to St. Mary Churchyard, Wath, Yorkshire, England. AC.2 William McKelvie Cochrane rests in New Monkland Cemetery, Section D Grave 307, Glenmavis, Airdrie, Lanarkshire, Scotland.