On the morning of Thursday 26th October, 1944 Fairey Firefly Mk.1 DT977 of 1770 Squadron, FAA RN departed from HMS Wagtail, RNAS Ayr. The aircraft was crewed by Sub-Lieutenant James Henry Fairclough, RNVR and Sub-Lieutenant Anthony John King, RN. They were on a radio navigational training exercise using wireless detection finding. While flying in low cloud their equipment failed and the aircraft struck Blaeloch Hill. It was presumed that the aircraft came down in the Firth of Clyde as the exercise area was around Ailsa Craig. It was almost three weeks after the crash that the remains of the aircraft and the crew were discovered on Blaeloch Hill.
Sub Lieutenant James Henry Fairclough is buried at Ringley St Saviour churchyard near Bolton.
Sub Lieutenant Anthony John King is buried at Chesterton (St Andrew) churchyard in Cambridge.
Fairey Firefly DT977 (aircraft wreckage) on Blaeloch Hill.
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