30/03/1941 - Hawker Hurricane V6872 & W9307

Pilot Officer Du Vivier flying Hurricane W9307 and Flying Officer Dewar flying Hurricane V6872 from their base at Speke were flying a standing patrol over Prestatyn at 15,000 feet. At 14:20 hours radio communication ceased with the two aircraft and at 14:28 hours the Royal Observer Corp reported a loud explosion in the sky. A search was carried out over the sea in the patrol area and the land behind Prestatyn but no trace could be found of the two aircraft or pilots. It was believed that both aircraft collided in mid air and crashed into the Irish Sea off Prestatyn, no trace of the pilots was found.

On the 31st March 1941 three pieces of wreckage were found by the Coast Guard at Hoylake, these pieces were picked up on the beach at Hilbery Island and were confirmed to belong to Pilot Officer Du Vivier's Hurricane W9307.

Pilot Officer Du Vivier of the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, was the son of James E. and Carolina Du Vivier and the husband of Beryl Mary Du Vivier. He is remembered on the Runnymede Memorial, Surrey, Panel 32. Pilot Officer Du Vivier joined the RAFVR in January 1938 as an airman under pilot training, he was called up on the 1st of September 1939, completing his training and then commissioned in May 1940 and was posted to No 229 squadron at Wittering in June 1940.

Flying Officer Dewar of the Royal Air Force, was the son of Michael Bruce Urquhart Dewar and Dorothy Gertrude Dewar, of Hitchin, Herefordshire. He is remembered on the Runnymede Memorial, Surrey, Panel 30. Flying Officer Dewar who was born on the 2nd May 1917 and educated at Rugby School and Trinity College were he studied Engineering, he was also a member of the University Air Squadron and obtained a commission for the RAFVR in September 1938  and completed his flying training at Cranwell. then to No 6 OTU at Sutton bridge for conversion to Hurricanes in June 1940, he was posted to No 229 squadron at Wittering in July 1940 and was credited with two kills during September 1940, a Bf 109 and a Bf 110.