Aviation Archaeology - Beaufighter R2065

During the autumn of 1940, as a result of a direct order by Hitler, London was at the height of an onslaught which was being carried out relentlessly by the Luftwaffe. In a desperate effort to break the Morale of the British people, over 20,000 tons of high explosive bombs were unleashed on the city in a terrifying series of raids unlike the World had ever seen before. Over 20,000 people lost their lives in London alone and it seemed that nothing stood in the way of the waves of bombers which returned night after night. Apart from the hundreds of anti aircraft guns, Britain had another vital secret weapon up its sleeve - Radar, during the autumn of 1940 No. 219 Squadron Royal Air Force was deployed to RAF Redhill were it would carry out patrols to seek down the enemy.

On the night of 30th October 1940 Bristol Beaufighter R2065 from No. 219 Squadron took off from RAF Redhill in Surrey at approx 18.25pm for a routine patrol around the London area. At the controls were P.O. Worsdell originally from Bracknell in Berkshire and his Air Gunner Sgt. Gardiner from Pontefract. The squadron was one of the first squadrons to receive the Mk1 Beaufighter, the radar equipment carried in the nose of the aircraft was considered top secret at the time and would later prove invaluable to the RAF. R2065 was equipped with the MkIV AI (Airborne Interceptor) Radar which was still experimental at the time. RAF Redhill was less than ideal for the Beaufighter with its muddy grass runways and the station was not popular with the air crews. Because of its geographical location and being situated on what was once a marsh, the aerodrome was more often than not shrouded in fog. The runway lighting was primitive to say the least, there were no runway lights, instead the crews relied on two ‘goose neck’ flares, one placed each end of the runway. The weather on the night of the 30th October 1940 was at first clear but quickly worsened to minimum visibility. It was on its return flight that R2065 tragically flew in to Beech trees at high ground near Balcombe in West Sussex, the crew were desperately trying to locate Redhill and were instantly killed when the aircraft erupted into a ball of flame and metal.