M.5   Captain  Francis Joseph Bush 
flag england    b. 26 Apr 1904, Banbury Oxfordshire    11 Sep 1939 - Nov-41 

  ata francis bush1935

  ATAM

June 1940

   

 

 Ed. Uppingham

prev. a Manufacturer and Company Director

prev exp 507 hrs. Owned a 1928 DH Moth G-AAAA, then a 1931 DH Puss Moth G-ABLG (which he bought from Margaret Fairweather)

Address in 1939: 76 High St, Watford, Herts

By the 6 Dec 1939, when he still hadn't started flying, he wrote to the ATA, "I was wondering if my Puss Moth (which is in tip-top order) would eventually be of use in the ATA, or do you advise me to try and sell it to be shifted overseas?

I am still at the above address [Green Park Hotel, Bournemouth] waiting for your instructions when and where to report for duty."

[His Puss Moth was impressed 18 Feb 41, and struck off charge for spares 12 Apr 44]

Certificate of Commendation "After a satisfactory test flight at Kinloss, F/O Bush set off on the 19th December 1940, in a Boston for Prestwick. After about 25 miles the starboard engine failed and F/O Bush feathered the airscrew. He then returned to Lossiemouth and landed there. In spite of the fact that the brakes were out of action, the landing was made without damage to the aircraft. He had never flown the type before, and the ATA at that time could not provide handling notes."

"He has beeen outstanding in the way he has worked, and the example he has set."

"A competent pilot and a very good officer" 

 3 accidents, 1 of them his fault.


 

d. 23 Nov 41 (Died in ATA Service) - Liberator AL562 engine caught fire and crashed into the sea south of Burrow Head, Wigtownshire, en route Prestwick to Hawarden.

2nd pilot, F/O EE Uhlich (USA) (q.v.) also killed.

'Gen' Genovese (q.v.) wrote later that "the ship was one of the first Liberators in England, but ... through some grim blunder on someone's part the anti-aircraft crew had not been advised of its being a new addition to the British Air Force. Elmer Ulich (sic) was shot down and killed by British anti-aircraft fire."

The official accident report says "Insufficient evidence to establish cause but thought to be through bad weather causing aircraft to catch fire in the air."

The ATA insurers paid his mother Edith and sister Violet £2,000.

buried Maidenhead Cemetery


 Download ATA Pilot Personal Record (.zip file):download grey

 

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