Sergeant Harold Gibson Black (1517655) served in the Royal Air Force during World War Two. He was a second pilot on board Airspeed Oxford ED188, which crashed near Brechin, Scotland.
He was the son of Harold Eveleigh Black and Agnes Black of Whitehead, Co. Antrim. Black died on 28th December 1944 aged 23 years old.
Airspeed Oxford ED188
On Thursday 28th December 1944, Black’s plane came down at Meadows Farm, 15 miles south-west of Brechin, Scotland. Reports suggest the plane struck a tree while carrying out low-level manoeuvres. The Oxford’s base was at the nearby RAF Montrose.
Airspeed Oxford II ED188 of 2 Flying Instructor School crashed at around 1305hrs. The impact killed both of the crew. The pilot was Pilot Officer A Whiteley DFC. Rescuers found the crashed plane at around 1415hrs and discovered both men dead.
Remembering Harold Gibson Black
Harold Gibson Black’s grave is in Section DD, Grave 200 of Carnmoney Church of the Holy Evangelists Cemetery, Newtownabbey, Co. Antrim.
His headstone bears the inscription: “Treasured memories of an only beloved son”.