In Memory Of

MOUNTAIN, RALPH

Service Details
Age:
 37
Date of Birth:
 -0001-11-30
Rank:
 Captain
Regiment:
 British Overseas Airways Corporation
Date of Death:
 1943-11-05
Cause of Death:
 Died on active service
Commemoration
Grave Reference:
 5. B. 8.
Cemetery:
 HALFAYA SOLLUM WAR CEMETERY
Country:
 Egypt
Additional Information
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."
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.