Sergeant Horace Phillip Black
90 Squadron Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve

Phillip Black at school

Early Days

Horace (better known as Phillip) was born near Dorking on 19 December 1921, the son of Horace Simpson Black (a printers compositor) and Evelyn May (nee Pike) who later lived in New Haw, Surrey. During the war Horace senior was a Special Constable in the police.

After School

In 1939 Horace was working as a Junior Costing Clerk at the Electricity Office. He was living at home with the family at 366 Woodham Lane.

World War 2

In March 1941 prior to entering the war at the end of the year, the US government passed the Land-Lease Law empowering their war department to lend war material to 'the government of any country whose defense the President deems vital for the defense of the United States'. The RAF quickly ordered twenty Boeing B-17C Flying Fortresses. They were keen to acquire them because their defensive fire power was considered suitable for high altitude unescorted daytime bombing missions.

The USAAF did not consider the B-17C to be combat ready. During high altitude tests the guns had a tendency to freeze up but the RAF considered them to be relatively easy to fly and replaced most of the guns with British made Brownings.

The aircraft (known as Fortress 1 by the RAF) were to be flown by 90 Squadron based at West Raynham in Norfolk (part of 3 Bomber Group). Things got off to a bad start when the first fortress crashed off the end of the runway on its delivery flight.

The first raids using the Fortress 1 were planned for July 1941 and 90 Squadron spent June testing and training.

On 22 June 1941 Fortress AN-522 J-Johnny was prepared for a stratospheric test flight. The crew that day was FO J. 'Mike' Hawley (RAF), Sgt. Thomas Wills (20 year old Canadian second pilot who had recently graduated from Yale), Lt. Foley 'Jim' Bradley (USAAF instructor), Squadron Leader David Robson (West Raynham's chief medical officer, aged 32), FO Tony Barwood (90 Squadron medical officer, aged 26), Flt. Sgt. George Garwood (22 year old wireless officer from Dagenham) and Phillip Black who was just 19 years old.

For Tony Barwood this was his first ever flight aboard a Fortress but just as he was about to board two specialists arrived from Farnborough and 'pulled rank' requesting a priority flight. Barwood stood aside as his place was taken by Flt. Lt. William Steward (medical officer at Farnborough) and test pilot Flt. Lt. J. B. Henderson.

After the final pre flight checks the Fortress with its 100 foot wingspan lifted off from the grass runway. The operational ceiling of the B-17C was a little over 35,000 feet. The aircraft reached 33,000 feet when disaster struck. The plane entered a 'cloud filled with hail the size of golf balls'.

The flying fortress immediately broke into pieces. William Steward was in the tail section as it broke away and plummeted towards the ground. At 3,000 feet he managed to pull himself free and bail out. He parachuted to safety. He was the only crew member to survive.

Mike Hawley is buried at Dushworth cemetery in Yorkshire. Thomas Wills, George Garwood and David Robson are buried at Catterick Cemetery together with Phillip Black.

Post Note

Jim Bradley was the first American to be killed on active service in the war. William Steward went on to become head of the RAF institute of Aviation and Tony Barwood, who was taken off the flight at the last minute died in 2008 and dedicated his life to flight safety especially ejector seats.

Phillip's grave in Catterick

If you have any further information or corrections please contact me.