James Orville's Story.
James Orville Cross was born on 20th October 1916 in Windsor Ontario to parents George and Gertrude. After leaving school he worked as an office clerk at Ford Motor Company and on 4th February 1942 he enlisted in the RCAF and volunteered for pilot training.He trained at No 1 ITS in Toronto from 8th June to 31st July 1942 before moving to the Empire Flight Training School at Windsor between 31st August 1942 and 23rd October 1942 before completing his flying training at the Service Flight Training School at Aylmer between 28th October 1942 and 5th March 1943 upon completion of which he was awarded his pilot’s wings.
On 25th March 1943 he embarked on a ship for the UK arriving on 11th April 1943.
Following arrival in UK he was posted to 7 ( P) AFU for advanced training from 25th May 1943 until 7th July 1943 when he was posted to 2 Flight Instructor School for training as an instructor. On 29th September 1943 he was posted to 5 ( P) AFU at RAF Ternhill in Shropshire as an instructor.
The Accident
On the 7th November 1943, P/O Rothwell took off in Anson N4934 from Ternhill at 13:50 hours, detailed to carry out a Ground Controlled Interception (GCI) exercise. He carried as passengers Flt Sgt Walsh and Flt Lt McDonald, both for navigation experience, of whom Walsh was flying voluntarily. Also on board was Cpl L A Manners, a passenger flying voluntarily.
F/O Cross (Instructor) and Flt Sgt Carter (Pupil Pilot) took off from the same airfield at 13:25 hours in Miles Master EM281 to practice ordinary circuits and landings. The visibility was good with some haze near the ground, and a strong sun and with a light wind.
The Anson took off normally, turned 90 degrees, and was still in a climbing turn to port when the collision occurred at approx 14:05 hours. The Master caught the port wing of the Anson and both aircraft crashed and both crews were killed. The Anson came down near Martin’s Farm, Longford, Shropshire, to the northeast of Ternhill.
Crew: Anson N4934.
RNZAF P/O John Rothwell (Instructor Pilot).
RAAF F/Sgt Clement James Walsh ((Pupil Pilot).
RCAF F/Lt Verdun Frederick McDonald (PAX).
RAF Cpl (WE Mech.) Lawrence Allen Manners (PAX).
Crew : Master EM281.
RAF F/O James Orville Cross (Instructor Pilot).
RAF Flt Sgt Denis Frank Carter (Pupil Pilot).
Pilot Officer Rothwell and Flt Sgt Walsh are buried in the Chester (Blacon) Cemetery, UK. Cpl Manners is buried in Stand (All Saints) Churchyard, UK. Flt Lt McDonald is buried in Chester (Blacon) Cemetery.
Flying Officer Cross is buried in Chester (Blacon) Cemetery and Flight Sergeant Carter is buried in Braintree & Bocking Cemetery, Bocking.
Accident Form 1
Accident Form 2
Accident Form 3
James's Funeral at Blacon Cemetery
Anson Accident Form 1
Anson Accident Form 2
Research by Steve Merrill