Mosquito (NS882) Crash in Lymington & the Death of Donald MacNicol
On the 10th of October 1944, a de Havilland DH.98 Mosquito FB Mk VI crashed in a field off Lower Pennington Lane, near Lymington. Flight Sergeant Donald Kenneth Irvine MacNicol, a twenty year old Canadian with the Royal Canadian Air Force, was killed.

He was a navigator on board the Mosquito (NS882), a British twin-engine combat aircraft with an airframe constructed mostly of wood. The Mosquito carried a crew of two, pilot and navigator, who sat side by side.
The pilot was another Canadian, F/S R.S. Walker. The two men were part of a Canadian night fighter squadron, No.406 Squadron (RCAF) which had been formed in the UK. The squadron was initially set up to work on defensive duties but was mainly used as an intruder squadron and for low level sorties over France and later Germany. It’s motto was “we kill by night”. During D-Day a few months earlier, the squadron had been tasked with flying low level sorties over France and this role continued for the rest of the war.
On the day of the accident, Walker and MacNicol had left RAF Colerne in Wiltshire. No.406 Squadron (RCAF) had been based there since September. The operational records for 1 October 1944, give some insight into how things were for the men.
“The squadron and echelon have now adjusted themselves to the new station routine and are pretty well settled in with minor needs being organised and problems arranged. Little encouraging possibility of future activity appears to exist at this date, but in the meantime a full training programme is being continued.”
In the ten days leading up to the day of the accident, it appeared that the men of No.406 Squadron (RCAF) were mainly being sent on flying exercises, with no active engagement with the enemy recorded. There were many references to “dull” and “cold” during this period.
On 10 October 1944, the day of the accident, the operational records state:
“Heavy fog and cloud in the morning, clearing somewhat in the afternoon. Early this morning two offensive patrols were carried out between St. Nazaire and La Rochelle without event.”
MacNicol and Walker were not involved in this activity over France, but instead were sent out to test one of the squadron Mosquitos. The operational records explain what happened next.
“Today was sadly marred by our first fatal accident for over a year when F/S R.S. Walker and F/S D.K.I. MacNicol, navigator, both Canadians, who have been with the squadron since last July, crashed near Lymington whilst testing an M.U. Mosquito. Details are at present not known but it is learned from an eye witness account that the machine appeared to take fire and blow up in the air. The pilot F/S Walker baled out and was admitted to Lymington Hospital with a dislocated shoulder and severe shock. The body of F/S MacNicol was found near the aircraft with his open parachute a distance away. A court of inquiry is being held after which further details will be available.”
Four days later, the New Milton Advertiser reported on the incident, and Donald MacNicol’s death.

Airman Parachutes Through Wreckage: Hundreds of People See Plane Explode in Air
Hundreds of people saw an aeroplane burst into flames and explode in the air on the outskirts of Lymington town on Tuesday afternoon. An even more loaning sight was that one of the occupants was seen to jump from the blazing craft and to parachute safely to earth with blazing parts of the aeroplane falling all round him. He landed safely in Woodside, Lower Pennington area, but was taken to hospital suffering from injuries and shock.

His colleague, a flight-sergeant, lost his life, his body being found a few yards from the wreckage of the main part of the plane which crashed in a field off Lower Pennington Lane.
Farm buildings and houses narrowly escaped as the blazing machine dived down. Pieces that had been blown off in the air were scattered over a wide area. The N.F.S arrived within a few minutes to deal with burning wreckage as ammunition continued to explode.
Pilot Officer Donald Kenneth Irvine MacNicol of the RCAF was just twenty years old at the time of his death in Lymington. He was the son of Donald Dwight MacNicol and Charlotte Genevieve MacNicol, of Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.
Below is a letter written by his mother in 1948, requesting the Royal Canadian Air Force send her son’s belongings to her.

The handwriting isn’t easy to read, but here’s a short and edited extract:
“Dear Sirs, I have never received my son’s things. He was killed on active service October 10th, 1944 in England. I would like very much to have his log book also. I understand you may have them.”

Donald MacNicol is buried in Brookwood Military Cemetery, Surrey, with grave reference 33. J. 9.
References & credits:
- New Milton Advertiser – Saturday 14 October 1944
- National Archives AIR-27-1791-77, AIR-27-1791-78
- https://caspir.warplane.com/pdoc/pn/600012227/