* This week we publish an extract from an article by historian Geoff Kennell, who is looking to trace a former Sutton resident, whose brother an RAF pilot was killed in a training flight, just months before the Second World War.

How many people walking through Camberwell New Cemetery have noticed the grassy space among the headstones and perhaps briefly wondered at the reason, or of who might lie there? Such gaps may not be uncommon but behind this one lies a poignant, local story and a mystery.

It was shortly after 2pm on May 18, 1939, that Sergeant John Lingard lifted his 25 Squadron Bristol Blenheim If, L1439, off the grass of RAF Hawkinge and headed northwest. The If, with which 25 Squadron had been re-equipped in December 1938, was a fighter' version of the Blenheim. It featured an additional four 303 Browning machine guns in a central gun pack, as well as the single wing mounted Browning and single-gun dorsal turret of the bomber version.

Although the If normally carried a crew of three, the only other occupant of L1439 that day was aircraftman Francis Jones, the 19-year-old wireless operator.

It was not the first time the two had flown together, as Jones had accompanied Lingard six days earlier when they had taken part in a rehearsal for that year's Empire Air Day.

When Lingard and Jones had left Hawkinge, the weather was good but as they reached the area to the west of Chatham, it began to deteriorate rapidly. The haze in which they had been flying turned to cloud and Lingard found himself in a difficult position.

The 24-year-old pilot decided to seek the safety of clear sky at a lower altitude, and easing the control column forward, put the Blenheim into a dive. At 7,500ft they entered thick black cloud and heavy rain.

Passing 3,000ft, Lingard saw the cloud was somewhat lower than the 4,000ft he had initially thought. At 2,500ft there was still no sign of clear sky and with the ground coming ever closer, time was running out.

Realising their chances of breaking into clear sky, with enough altitude to pull out of the dive, were slim, Lingard ordered Jones to bale out. But Jones now sat rigid in his seat.

Try as he might, Lingard was unable to rouse Jones and as the Blenheim neared 1,800ft, he was forced to take to his own parachute.

It was not until Lingard had floated down to around 900ft that he found himself in clear sky. Looking around to see if Jones had followed him, Lingard could see the Blenheim below but there was no sign of another parachute.

The Blenheim crashed to the ground close to the present day Dartford River crossing.

When people reached the wreckage, they found the body of Francis Jones among the shattered metal, his unused parachute nearby.

Anyone who knew of K Jones, of 113 Epsom Road, Sutton, can contact geoff@gkennell.freeserve.co.uk

July 17, 2002 16:00