Imber - Friendly Fire Incident World War II
Flight Sergeant McLachlan and a Hurricane
Imber, Salisbury Plain, England 13 April 1942 Friendly Fire Incident involving an RAF pilot during World War II, multiple deaths:
A Royal Canadian Air Force Hawker Hurricane fighter pilot, assigned to No. 175 Squadron RAF, taking part in a firepower demonstration rehearsal near Imber accidentally opened fire on a crowd of spectators, killing 25 and wounding 71. Pilot error and bad weather were blamed for the incident. It was a rehearsal for an event that went ahead a few days later at which Winston Churchill attended. The intention was to show the ability of the aircraft to destroy intended targets on the ground. Five other Hurricane pilots had succeeded The following day the War Office and Air Ministry issued a joint statement: "During combined exercises to-day in Southern England there was an unfortunate accident in which a number of soldiers, including some members of the Home Guard, were killed and other injured. The next-of-kin have been informed."
The Court of Inquiry found the pilot, just 20-year-old* Sergeant William McLachlan, American-born Canadian, was guilty of making an error of judgement and that the weather at the time contributed to the incident. The pilot of the Hurricane had misidentified the spectators as dummies, thinking that they were part of the demonstration when he opened fire. An inquest held at Warminster into the 27 deaths recorded that the deaths were caused by gunshot wounds and attributed to misadventure. The American born pilot told the inquest he lost sight of the aeroplane he was following in the haze and realised he had made a mistake after he fired.
On 29 June 1942, just 3 months later, and not yet twenty-one years-old, Flight Sergeant McLachlan and one other aircraft from 175 Squadron took off to attack German shipping off Cherbourg. The attack was conducted amid heavy anti-aircraft fire and on reforming, F/S McLachlan’s aircraft was missing. It was presumed that he had been shot down while attacking an enemy convoy.
On the 70th anniversary of the incident at the military church in Warminster, St Giles' Church a plaque was unveiled with the 25 names of those killed, to commemorate the incident.
* other reports has his age as 21, but imber.org.uk has checked records for his date of birth, October 15, 1921.
A Royal Canadian Air Force Hawker Hurricane fighter pilot, assigned to No. 175 Squadron RAF, taking part in a firepower demonstration rehearsal near Imber accidentally opened fire on a crowd of spectators, killing 25 and wounding 71. Pilot error and bad weather were blamed for the incident. It was a rehearsal for an event that went ahead a few days later at which Winston Churchill attended. The intention was to show the ability of the aircraft to destroy intended targets on the ground. Five other Hurricane pilots had succeeded The following day the War Office and Air Ministry issued a joint statement: "During combined exercises to-day in Southern England there was an unfortunate accident in which a number of soldiers, including some members of the Home Guard, were killed and other injured. The next-of-kin have been informed."
The Court of Inquiry found the pilot, just 20-year-old* Sergeant William McLachlan, American-born Canadian, was guilty of making an error of judgement and that the weather at the time contributed to the incident. The pilot of the Hurricane had misidentified the spectators as dummies, thinking that they were part of the demonstration when he opened fire. An inquest held at Warminster into the 27 deaths recorded that the deaths were caused by gunshot wounds and attributed to misadventure. The American born pilot told the inquest he lost sight of the aeroplane he was following in the haze and realised he had made a mistake after he fired.
On 29 June 1942, just 3 months later, and not yet twenty-one years-old, Flight Sergeant McLachlan and one other aircraft from 175 Squadron took off to attack German shipping off Cherbourg. The attack was conducted amid heavy anti-aircraft fire and on reforming, F/S McLachlan’s aircraft was missing. It was presumed that he had been shot down while attacking an enemy convoy.
On the 70th anniversary of the incident at the military church in Warminster, St Giles' Church a plaque was unveiled with the 25 names of those killed, to commemorate the incident.
* other reports has his age as 21, but imber.org.uk has checked records for his date of birth, October 15, 1921.
Imber.org.uk does not manage the village and advises visitors to adhere to all safety advice when there.
Photographs are copyright, but see contact information for re-use restrictions.
Photographs are copyright, but see contact information for re-use restrictions.
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