REMEMBERED

Special tribute to airman (20) who crashed flying Hawker Hurricane

People came to the shore of Loch Leven on Saturday, March 7 to honour a New Zealand pilot who died in 1943 when his plane crashed into the water near St Serf’s Island.

The poignant ceremony on the banks of Loch Leven was well attended, despite the rain.

They were there to unveil a plaque to commemorate the 77th anniversary of the death of the

20-year old Midshipman Winston Vernon Stark, who had a fatal accident while at the controls of a Hawker Hurricane aircraft.

A board explaining the event has been placed on the Loch Leven Heritage Trail.

A commemorative plaque, covered by the New Zealand flag, was unveiled by the Royal Air Force Air Officer Scotland, Air Vice Marshall Ross Paterson.

There were also a number of veterans in attendance to pay their respects.

The event was organised by Aero Space Kinross and was introduced by its chairman Alisdair Stewart.

The ceremony was conducted by Rachel Cheer, who undertook the research and wrote a detailed eulogy for Winston Stark.

Afterwards, some moving poetry symbolically floated on the loch by Mr Stewart.

The sad events the gathering marked happened in 1943.

Aged just 20, Midshipman Stark of the Royal New Zealand Naval Volunteer Reserve was training with No 9 (Pilot) Advanced Flying Unit at RAF Errol.

On March 7, Winston was carrying out a training flight in Hawker Hurricane V6786 when it crashed into Loch Leven.

The plane struck the water whilst flying low. The MOD record for the incident states the cause of the tragedy to be ‘unauthorised low flying’, but probably no-one will ever know what really happened in those few fateful seconds.

Records reveal that the downed aircraft was a ‘write-off ’. The wreckage remains under the water where it came to a stop. Winston’s body was recovered and taken to Kinross Mortuary.

Celebrant and researcher Rachel Cheer told the PA what Saturday’s ceremony represented for her: “When, in my capacity as curator, we started the project a year ago, I wasn’t sure we would find out any information about the mysterious Hawker Hurricane in the loch.

“However, I had a breakthrough one day and I was hooked.

“The real clincher was when I first set eyes on Winston’s photo.

The effect was visceral. I knew, categorically, that we must honour his life.

“Direct contact with the family in New Zealand cemented the deal.

“With my other hat on, as an independent celebrant, it was a huge honour to create a fitting and meaningful ceremony to honour Winston’s sacrifice.

“The whole experience has been hugely rewarding, especially to be able to present it to such an appreciative audience.”

Aero Space Kinross is grateful to the Kinross-shire Fund for its assistance with this project.

The plaque is now on public display on the circular walk around Loch Leven. The nearest parking point is at Findatie.