On 4th July 1944, Grumman Hellcat JV146 crashed near Greyabbey, Co. Down. The pilot was Sub-Lieutenant Frederick Robert Akister of the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve.
Fleet Air Arm 800 Squadron had its base at HMS Emperor; an American Aircraft Carrier serving the Royal Navy under Lend-Lease. The naval air squadron flew from Ballyhalbert Airfield, Ballyhalbert, Co. Down.
While making a steep turn, Akister lost control of the plane and spun out into the ground near Thompson’s Farm, Greyabbey, Co. Down. A brass plaque on a wooden fencepost on Tullykevin Road, Greyabbey, Co. Down marks the crash site.
In memory of Sub Lt (A) F.R Akister 800 Sqn RNVR. Aged 20. Killed when his Hellcat JV146 crashed here on 4th July 1944. He is not forgotten.
Frederick Robert Akister’s grave is in Section D, Grave 578 of St. Peter’s Churchyard, Rawdon, Yorkshire.