1947 Spitfire Crash in Bournemouth & John Henry Green

In the immediate post-war period, thousands of people around the country were entertained by Battle of Britain Air Displays. The shows raised money for the RAF Benevolent Fund. One such show took place over the skies of Bournemouth on the 17^th of September, 1947… but it would end in tragedy.

Thousands of people came out of their homes, with many heading to the beaches of Bournemouth, Boscombe, and Southbourne to see the exciting display. One of the aircraft performing that day was a Supermarine Spitfire Mk XVIII (registration TP454), piloted by a Canadian pilot named Flight Lieutenant John Henry “Butch” Green DFC, who’d flown down from RAF Middle Wallop.

There was a radio van on the beach from where operators and members of the public could communicate with Green in the Spitfire, as well other display pilots. The conversations were broadcast through large loudspeakers so locals and holidaymakers could hear the action as Flight Lieutenant Green started to perform stunts over the water, between the stretch of beach from Bournemouth pier to Boscombe pier.

The Mayor of Bournemouth councillor, J.W. Moore was in communication with Flight Lieutenant Green, when a young boy on holiday in Bournemouth was invited up to the radio van. The boy, Terence Smith from Chesham in Buckinghamshire, spoke from the RAF ground to air radio and asked pilot, Flight Lieutenant Green to do a victory roll.

The Mayor of Bournemouth councillor J.W. Moore speaks to pilot Green of Spitfire TP454 from the radio van before he crashed into the sea on 17 September 1947 (Credit Bournemouth Echo archive).

Green rolled the Spitfire about 400 yards off Bournemouth pier in view of thousands of excited and awe-struck spectators. As he came out of the roll, he radioed back to the boy:

“Sorry, Sonny, it was not a very good one.”

The Spitfire flew across the bay towards Hengistbury Head and turned. Eyewitnesses later said the aircraft was about eight hundred to a thousand feet in the air, when it started to do the second roll. It was flying upside down, and was very low near Boscombe Pier, when it suddenly dived vertically into the sea. The tide was high, and the depth of water was about twenty four feet.

Local man Jake Bolson operated motor boat cruises off Bournemouth shore and raced out to the spot in one of his Skylarks. Another Skylark followed with a diver on board who went down to locate the aircraft. Attempts to find the Spitfire and Green’s body were also made by Mr. J. Reed, who stripped and dived to the sea bed. A lifeboat arrived from Poole and efforts were made to reach the Spitfire with an anchor and a grappling hook.

A diver attempts to locate pilot Green and Spitfire TP454 off Bournemouth to Boscombe beach (Credit Bournemouth Echo archive).

Flight Lieutenant John Henry Green had drowned. He is buried at Brookwood Cemetery in Surry. At the time of his death, he was 29 years old and married to Irene who lived in South Kensington, London.

Flight-Lieutenant “Butch” Green, as he was known amongst his comrades, had completed his service in the RAF and was soon to return to Canada to take over his father’s business. During WW2 he was awarded the DFC after being shot down over Germany whilst flying a Hampden bomber. For four years he was a prisoner of war.

The subsequent Board of Inquiry concluded that Green had flown Spitfire TP454 in unauthorised low-level aerobatics, contrary to his pre-flight briefing.

A memorial plaque to Pilot Green can be found at East Overcliff Drive, Bournemouth. The plaque appears at the end of a garden overlooking the sea, within sight of his fatal crash.

Flight Lieutenant John Henry Green’s RAF record

John Green was born in Vancouver, Canada on May 30^th 1918. He went to school at Alberni District High School, Port Alberni, British Columbia. The Yorkshire Aircraft website reports his service record as follows:

Granted a short service commission as Acting Pilot Officers on probation on 9^th October 1939 in the RAF.
Later graded as Pilot Officer on probation on 4^th May 1940.
Confirmed as P/O on 4^th August 1940.
Joined 49 Squadron RAF on 12^th October 1940.
Flew his first operational flight on the night of 16^th/17^th October 1940.
Recommended for the DFC on 28^th November 1940 which stated:

“This Canadian officer joined his squadron on 12^th October 1940, and carried out his first operation, as a First Pilot, on 16^th October. On this occasion he flew through extremely difficult weather conditions and was one of four out of twelve aircraft to locate and attack enemy submarines at Bordeaux. On 20^th November this officer was captain of an aircraft detailed to bomb the Skoda works in Czechoslovakia which he attacked successfully from 1,500 feet causing fires and explosions. Pilot Officer Green’s work as an operational pilot has been outstanding and his enthusiasm, skill and courage have been a source of inspiration to the newly joined flying personnel in his squadron. He has completed a total of ten operational flights against the enemy during the course of which he has completed 77 hours flying as a first pilot.”

Awarded the DFC, Gazetted on 17^th January 1941 for service with 49 Squadron RAF.
Pilot of Hampden X3001 when it was shot down over Holland on 11^th February 1941 and became a POW.
Received a promotion to F/O (war subs) on 4^th May 1941 and later to F/Lt.
Post-War he remained in the RAF and continued to fly.
17^th September 1947 he was flying Spitfire TP454 as part of the Battle of Britain air display over Bournemouth when the aircraft crashed into the sea.

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