Name: |
MOUNTAIN |
Given Name: |
RALPH |
Initials: |
R |
Rank: |
CaptainOther Casualties of this Rank |
Regiment: |
British Overseas Airways Corporation |
Date of Death: |
1943-11-05Other Casualties on this
Date |
Age: |
37 |
Cause of Death: |
Died on active service |
Decorations: |
Stanhope Gold Medal and the Royal Humane Society |
Citations: |
Crash of the Imperial Airways – "Cygnus" Short S.23 "C" Class - G-ADUZ - Brindisi Asia - Great Britain Route When taking off in a choppy sea, the Captain inadvertently set the flaps fully down, causing the aircraft to bounce off the water. It dropped with a splash, bounced up again, and after rising 20 to 30 feet, it dropped nose down, and the aircraft overturned and sank. The steward F.L. Stoppani and one passenger were killed. Five passengers were injured including the Government Director of Imperial Airways, Air Marshall Sir Johan Salmond. An enquiry later blamed pilot error for the accident. Imperial was censured for failing to have specified sufficient push-out windows and escape hatches when ordering the flying boats. 2nd Officer Ralph Mountain was awarded the Stanhope gold medal for the "bravest deed of the year. He dived 3 times to rescues passengers trapped in the cabin." |
Additional
Information: |
Son of Henry James Joseph and Kate Mountain; husband of Betty Olive Mountain, of Durban, Natal, South Africa. Awarded the Stanhope Gold Medal and the Royal Humane Society's Silver Medal. |
This information was last verified for accuracy: 2015-11-29
