Bomber Command Memorial Register

RAF Kinloss area Whitley Memorial

RAF Kinloss area, Moray

Complete Record
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Location

RAF Kinloss area, Moray, Moray

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Narrative

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.

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)

RankNameRoleAgeNationalityFateBurial / Status
SgtS.P. Gallagher——BritishKilled
—CWGC
SgtH.D. Gaywood——BritishKilled
—CWGC
SgtF.S. Legge——BritishKilled
—CWGC
SgtF.W. Lewis——BritishKilled
—CWGC
SgtJ.F. Painter——BritishKilled
—CWGC
SgtR.E. Rolison——BritishKilled
—CWGC

About the Crew

Sgt S.P. Gallagher

One of six crew members killed in the crash into residential Forres. Full first names not traced in available records.

Sgt H.D. Gaywood

Crew member of 19 OTU based at RAF Kinloss. Full first names not traced.

Sgt F.S. Legge

Crew member of 19 OTU. Full first names not traced.

Sgt F.W. Lewis

Crew member of 19 OTU. Full first names not traced.

Sgt J.F. Painter

Crew member of 19 OTU. Full first names not traced.

Sgt R.E. Rolison

Crew member of 19 OTU. Full first names not traced.

Memorial Details

Type
Rectangular brass wall-mounted plaque on wood backboard, erected by Station Commander

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.

IWM memorial reference 44614Plaque erected 12 November 1989

Detailed personal research blog post about the Whitley crash in Forres and the wider history of Forres airfields.

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.

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.

RAF Kinloss history documented for visitors19 OTU established May 1940

Sources

Credits & Acknowledgements

Record compiled by
Keith Binley
Heritage sources
Imperial War Museums (retrieved 2026-03-23)
Undiscovered Scotland (retrieved 2026-03-23)
Visit Forres (retrieved 2026-03-23)
Last updated 2026-03-23

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Dunbeath Mk.III Memorial
Dunbeath, Caithness, HighlandsShort Sunderland Mk.III1942-08-25
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Ben Tirran / Muckle Cairn Wellington Memorial
Ben Tirran / Muckle Cairn, AngusVickers Wellington Mk.IC1942-08-09
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away
Fairy Lochs (USAAF) Memorial
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122.7 km
away

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