On 16th November 1941, Hudson AM883 UL-N of 608 Squadron took off at 1708 hours from RAF Thornaby on a Stand Patrol (Stavanger to Kristiansand). At 2055 the aircraft was diverted to Kinloss but owing to bad weather it flew into high ground on Clova Hill near Lumsden in Aberdeenshire at 2235.

Three of the four crew onboard were killed in the crash.

Flight Sergeant Reginald Charles WOOD (520647) RAF - Pilot
Age 23, son of Charles & Ellen Wood of Worthing, Sussex. Buried in Dyce Old Churchyard.

Flight Sergeant Robert John NEVILLE (905772) RAFVR - W/op A/G
Age 25, son of Robert Ruston Fowler Neville and Lilian Neville of Dartford, husband of Frances May Neville of Dartford. Buried in Dartford (Watling Street) Cemetery.

Flight Sergeant L J PAIN (755726) RAFVR - A/G
Age 24, son of Leslie James Pain and Beatrice Pain, husband of Lilian Rose Pain of Clapham. Buried in Wandsworth (Earlsfield) Cemetery.

	Wreckage on Clova Hill ~ Photos: L Druce

The fourth, Sgt P J Sheridan, survived and although injured managed to make his way down the hill where he sought help at a cottage on the Clova Estate. It is believed that Sgt Sheridan was a Canadian.

I first visited the site in February 2008 with Morten, but due to snow cover we were unable to locate the exact area of the crash. A further visit in May 2008 with Kjell & Morten proved more fruitful. Little remains on the hill today, the aircraft was blown up by the recovery team and the debris buried on the hillside.

As well as commemorating the airmen lost, this page is dedicated to the memory of Dick Milne.

Sources:
RAF Coastal Command Losses Vol 1 - Ross McNeill
RAF Form 1180
CWGC website