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Auction: 23003 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 104

Three: Sergeant Pilot O. B. McMahon, No. 49 Squadron, Royal Air Force, a native of New Zealand who died from a mid-air collision in a Hampden on a return from a raid over Germany on 25 August 1941

1939-1945 Star; Air Crew Europe Star; War Medal 1939-45; New Zealand Memorial Cross (RAF 966141 Sjt. O. B. McMahon), good very fine (4)

Owen Bernard McMahon was born on 10 June 1917 in Wellington, New Zealand. He was educated at the Johnsonville Public School, Wellington Technical College and Victoria University. He became an Instructor on the Staff of the International Correspondence School at Wellington, and later toured Britain and the United States of America extensively in the late 1930's but returned from New York on the 3 September 1939 the day War was declared, joining the Royal Air Force. He died as a result of a circuit collision of 25 August 1941 having returned from an Op on Germany.

Of the 8 aircraft dispatched by the Squadron that night, half a dozen were sent to bomb Dusseldorf and two were to attack searchlight concentrations.

Hampdens began returning to Scampton shortly after after 0200hrs on Monday 25 August. Because of recent intruder activity around Hampden bases by German night fighters, our aircaft had elected not to use navigation lights whilst in the airfield circuit. It is not certain if this was the case on this particular morning, but whilst No. 49 and 83 Squadron aircraft were awaiting permission to land, H-Harry from No. 49 Squadron and 83 Squadron aircraft were awaiting permission to land, H-Harry from 49 Squadron and F-Freddy of No. 83 Squadron hit each other over the village of Hackthorn to the North-East of Scampton airfield. The wreckage from both aircraft fell to the ground around Whale Jaw Farm, tragically there were no survivors. The accident was timed at 0250hrs. McMahon is buried in Scampton Churchyard, whilst his three fellow crew members were each returned to their respective home towns for burial.


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Sold for
£520

Starting price
£240