5043260 Sgt. Harold Stanley Cutler Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve (d.16th Oct 1942) Flight Sergeant Harold Stanley 'Bat' Cutler, died as a result of wounds incurred during a flying accident on 13th October, on 16 October 1942.
Sergeant Cutler was the pupil pilot in Airspeed Oxford AP395 of No 15 (P) Advanced Flying Unit operating from Acaster Malbis. He and Sgt J N MacIver took off at about 19.45 to undertake night flying training. Visibility deteriorated and the pilot lost sight of the flare path, though a rumour exists that electronic night flying aids were switched off due to concerns about local enemy activity. They descended from 600 to 100 ft in an attempt to establish their whereabouts. As a result of this descent the aircraft hit a tree and crashed at 20.30 near Esrick about 3 miles South East of the Airfield. Sergeant Cutler is buried in my local churchyard, the Lickey (Holy Trinity) Churchyard, Worcestershire.
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