Individual Details

Pilot Officer Thomas Templer Richardson RAF

(22 Aug 1914 - 14 May 1937)

Thomas Templer Richardson was gazetted June 4, 1935 as a P/O on 607 Squadron. He was flying Hawker Demon, K 5690, on the return leg of a X country flight to Sutton Bridge, on the evening of May 14, 1937, when he encountered fog on the Durham coast. He circled the beach at Dawdon and appeared to have become disorientated: the Demon stalled and crashed onto the beach near Dawdon Colliery. Locals pulled him free, after dowsing the flames with sand, however, Richardson was dead. He is buried in St Andrews Cemetery, Corbridge, Northumberland: he was 22 years old.

Events

Birth22 Aug 1914Darlington, Durham, England, United Kingdom
Death14 May 1937Seaham, Durham, England, United Kingdom

Families

FatherThomas Turner Richardson OBE (1880 - 1952)
MotherWinifred Ernestine Templer (1888 - 1954)
SiblingWinifred Anna Blanche Richardson (1915 - 1995)
SiblingJohn David Benbow Richardson (1919 - 1997)
SiblingGladys H K Richardson (1920 - )
SiblingFrederic Gordon Faber Richardson (1930 - 1969)

Notes

Death

Thomas Templer Richardson was gazetted June 4, 1935 as a P/O on 607 Squadron. He was flying Hawker Demon, K 5690, on the return leg of a cross country flight to Sutton Bridge, on the evening of May 14, 1937, when he encountered fog on the Durham coast. He circled the beach at Dawdon and appeared to have become disorientated: the Demon stalled and crashed onto the beach near Dawdon Colliery. Locals pulled him free, after dowsing the flames with sand, however, Richardson was dead. He is buried in St Andrews Cemetery, Corbridge, Northumberland: he was 22 years old.