Date: 23rd April 1950
Unit: No. 1832 Squadron R.N.V.R.
Type: Supermarine Seafire Mk. F.15
Serial No. SR611
Coded: 1??/CH
Base: R.N.A.S. Culham, Oxfordshire (H.M.S. Hornbill)
Pilot: Lieutenant Robert C MacLaren R.N.V.R. (Killed)
REASON FOR LOSS:
Lieutenant MacLaren took-off from R.N.A.S. Culham in Seafire F.15 SR611 for a squadron battle formation practice flight, during the exercise Lt. Maclaren’s aircraft collided with another of the squadrons Seafires, F.17 SX290 flown by Lt. S R Leslie. SR611 dived into the ground in an orchard at Highmoor Cross, Nettlebed, Oxon killing Lt MacLaren, the pilot of SX290 Lt Leslie landed safely.
Lt Maclaren was taken to his native home in Scotland for private burial.
1832 Squadron pilots at R.N.A.S. Culham. 2nd from left Lt. Cdr (A) G McC Rutherford MBE DSC R.N.V.R. 5th from left Lieutenant Robert C MacLaren R.N.V.R.
1832 Squadron Seafires during formation practice
In 1991 the remains of Seafire SR611 were recovered under M.O.D. Licence 749 by The Booker Aircraft Museum (Aircrew Remembrance Society) Above now part of the Societies Aviation Heritage Collection, Brass engine plate from engine that reads; Griffin VI No.39780 LEFT HAND TRACTOR. Navy Tunic fragment, and R.N.V.R. button.