RAAF Serviceman Harry William Long at Beechwood Cemetery

Today is the 80th anniversary of the death of Leading Aircraftman Harry William Long of the Royal Australian Air Force. He was training at No.2 Service Flying Training School, at CFB Uplands, Ottawa.

The circumstances are given in the RAAFA Aviation Heritage Museum.

“On 15 August 1941, Harvard 2689 flown by Leading Aircraftman Long was detailed to carry out a solo night training flight. At about 0230 hours, the Instructor in charge of night flying noticed lights of an aircraft that appeared to be flying against the circuit, gliding along at a height of about 100 feet some two miles away. It disappeared and instructions were given for all aircraft flying at that time to be grounded. It was then found that Harvard 2689 with Long as Pilot was missing and searches were commenced. The wreck of the aircraft was found 5 km from the aerodrome. The pilot was seriously injured and subsequently died.”

Harry William Long was the son of Arthur Henry and Brenda Mary Long, of Balgowlah, New South Wales, Australia. By a bizarre coincidence, he was engaged to Jean Frances Lord— the only other Australian airman killed flying out of that Flying Training School had last name Lord.

He is interred at Beechwood Cemetery in Section 29, Lot 1, Grave 111.

There’s a YouTube video on the history of CFB Uplands at https://youtu.be/gIEeJc4qia4

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