Carn A'Choire Mhoir Whitley Memorial
25.6 miles away
Highlands
RAF Kinloss area Whitley Memorial
RAF Kinloss area, Moray
Comprehensive Record
The Memorial
Type
Rectangular brass wall-mounted plaque on wood backboard, erected by Station Commander
Inscription
Could you help us fill in the inscription?
LocationApproximate Location
RAF Kinloss area, Moray, Moray
what3words: ///intro.elevates.traps
What Happened
On 7 November 1940, Whitley N1440 of 19 OTU crashed into the garden of a property called Glenernie on Tolbooth Street in Forres during a training flight from RAF Kinloss. All six crew members were killed. Remarkably, despite crashing into the heart of a residential area, there were no civilian casualties. The crash occurred during the early period of 19 OTU's operations; the unit had only recently begun training bomber crews at Kinloss, and the move to the satellite airfield at Forres (RAF Balnageith) would not take place until the following year. The Whitley was the standard heavy bomber trainer in Bomber Command's OTU system during 1940-42, and 19 OTU would lose over 100 aircraft during its wartime existence. Full first names and personal details for the crew have not been traced in available sources.
Community Connection
The memorial was photographed and shared by James Bissett on 25 November 2019.
Remembrance
Unclear Annual Service(Undetermined)
An annual service or commemoration is implied but not explicitly described in the text.
Aircraft & Operation Details
Aircraft Type
Whitley
Serial Number
N1440
Squadron
19 OTU
Station
RAF Kinloss
Date of Loss
1940-11-07
Operation Type
Training
Cause of Loss
Unknown (possibly engine failure during training flight)
Crew (6 members)
About the Crew
Sgt S.P. Gallagher
Killed when Whitley N1440 crashed into the garden of Glenernie on Tolbooth Street, Forres.
One of six crew members killed in the crash into residential Forres. Full first names not traced in available records.
Sgt H.D. Gaywood
Killed in the crash at Tolbooth Street, Forres.
Crew member of 19 OTU based at RAF Kinloss. Full first names not traced.
Sgt F.S. Legge
Killed in the crash at Tolbooth Street, Forres.
Crew member of 19 OTU. Full first names not traced.
Sgt F.W. Lewis
Killed in the crash at Tolbooth Street, Forres.
Crew member of 19 OTU. Full first names not traced.
Sgt J.F. Painter
Killed in the crash at Tolbooth Street, Forres.
Crew member of 19 OTU. Full first names not traced.
Sgt R.E. Rolison
Killed in the crash at Tolbooth Street, Forres.
Crew member of 19 OTU. Full first names not traced.
Local Contacts
These local organisations are connected to this memorial and may be able to help with information or visits.
Elgin Branch, Legion Scotlandlegion scotland
Local remembrance and memorial support
Further Reading
Imperial War MuseumsRetrieved 2026-03-23
IWM War Memorials Register entry for the Whitley Bomber N1440 air crash memorial. Records the brass wall-mounted plaque erected by the Station Commander of RAF Kinloss in 1989 on Tolbooth Street, Forres.
What you'll find: Explore the IWM War Memorials Register entry for Whitley Bomber N1440 air crash memorial at RAF Kinloss area.
IWM memorial reference 44614Plaque erected 12 November 1989
Old Man's Thoughts and Tales (WordPress blog)Retrieved 2026-03-23
Detailed personal research blog post about the Whitley crash in Forres and the wider history of Forres airfields.
What you'll find: Explore detailed personal research on RAF Kinloss area Whitley Memorial and surrounding Forres airfields' history.
Crash into garden of Glenernie propertyNo civilian casualties despite residential area19 OTU context provided
Undiscovered ScotlandRetrieved 2026-03-23
Guide to the 19 OTU Memorial at Forres, providing broader context for the operational training unit that lost over 100 aircraft during wartime.
What you'll find: Explore RAF Kinloss area Whitley Memorial's history and its connection to WWII aircraft losses.
19 OTU lost over 100 aircraft during the warSeparate 19 OTU memorial exists in Forres
Visit ForresRetrieved 2026-03-23
Tourism and heritage page documenting RAF Kinloss history.
What you'll find: Explore RAF Kinloss history through detailed documentation on the Whitley Memorial site.
RAF Kinloss history documented for visitors19 OTU established May 1940
Nearby Memorials
Sources
Imperial War Museums (retrieved 2026-03-23)
Old Man's Thoughts and Tales (WordPress blog) (retrieved 2026-03-23)
Undiscovered Scotland (retrieved 2026-03-23)
Visit Forres (retrieved 2026-03-23)
Credits & Acknowledgements
Record compiled by
Keith Binley
Last updated 2026-04-09
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