Remarkable tale of son who traced his father 60 years on
A man whose father was killed in a military plane crash more than 60 years ago has learned more about his death after a chance discovery on the internet.
David West-Watson’s father died on February 5, 1954 when, during a storm, the US Air Force C-47 in which he was travelling broke apart mid-air over the Susitna Valley in south central Alaska and crashed into the Kesugi Ridge, killing 10 passengers.
Among those who perished was married dad of two, 38-yearold Lt. Colonel William Ronald West-Watson, a doctor in the Royal Army Medical Corps.
His son David, who was just four at the time, grew up knowing little about his father or the crash.
But while recently researching his family tree, David, who lives in Rhosneigr on Anglesey, discovered that although 10 were killed in the accident, six people had survived – and still meet up regularly.
David said: “For over 50 years, all I knew about my father was THE fifth annual Anglesey Marine Week is taking place this week (August 15-21), with events planned around the island’s shores.
The event is all about getting people to explore the island’s marine environment, whether that be discovering the wildlife of the rocky shore, learning about coastal geology or trying a new watersport.
Anglesey Marine Week is the brain- that he died in Alaska when his plane flew into a mountain.
“We were living near Washington DC at the time of the accident, but returned straight back to the UK, although I have no real recollection of the time as I was so young.
“My mother, Jennie Gwerfyl Williams from Cwm-y-Glo, near Caernarfon, never spoke about the accident or much about our father.
“It was her way of coping with it I imagine. Me and my sister just accepted it.”
After a period living in London, David moved in with his maternal grandparents in Morfa Nefyn when he was eight, later attending Christ’s Hospital School in West Sussex, spending his holidays back on the Llŷn Peninsula.
He went on to serve in the child of local business owner Kathy James who runs Naturebites, taking people on guided wildlife tour.
She said: “As an island, our history has been so closely linked to the sea and Anglesey is a fantastic spot for wildlife- watching and for sport.
“I would love for people to try something they’ve never done before or discover something they hadn’t known previously. It’s all about good fun and Merchant Navy and became a captain.
He said: “My wife Anne stumbled across a photo of the memorial plaque to those lost in the crash, which included my father’s details.
“Naturally, we started reading further and it was then that the pieces slowly started to come together.
“Just three days later, my wife had tracked down one of the survivors who was actually writing a book about the crash, and we spoke over the phone.
“I found out that all those on aboard the flight were American, except for my father. He was older and more senior than most of them. “It was very emotional.” Later that year, accompanied by his wife Anne, David attended the survivors’ annual reunion, in discovery.”
All events are free or at reduced cost and many of the events are raising funds for Anglesey Marine Week’s chosen charities; the Marine Conservation Society, the North Wales Wildlife Trust, the RSPB and Sea Watch Foundation.
For more details on the various events, visit www.naturebites.co.uk/ anglesey-marine-week/ Cincinatti, Ohio and visited the crash site, where a considerable amount of the wreckage still remains.
David even found the radio his father was listening to when the plane got into difficulty.
“It completely changed my view of the world, and the crash was no longer something vague that happened far away,” he said.
“It was only then that I truly realised how much I had missed my father, but also, how happy and lucky I’ve been throughout my life.”
David now plans to take part in the three-day Ring of Fire next month (September 2-4) – a gruelling 135-mile run around Anglesey, to raise funds to sponsor another bereaved child to attend the same private school as he did in West Sussex. He has already raised £12,000. He said: “I’ve run marathons in the past, and helped with the marshalling in last year’s Ring of Fire. It’s not going to be easy, but I’m determined to raise as much as I can for the cause.”
To sponsor David visit justgiving.com/david2ws.