THIS April will see the 75th anniversary of a tragic war time accident which saw the biggest loss of lives in East Lothian during World War Two.

Like many events which happened during those years, little was reported at the time and details of those who died remain unclear.

The only real reference to the tragedy is a plaque which sits on a wall outside Longniddry Royal British Legion and was placed there by the Legion, Longniddry Community Council and East Lothian District Council on the 50th anniversary of the accident.

It reads "In memory of the twelve naval personnel and one civilian who lost their lives in a tragic accident at Ferny Ness on the 27th April, 1943".

In fact, a report issued around the time of the accident reported 14 people had lost their lives but when you consider the event itself, could it have been even higher?

What is known is that on April 27 a Fleet Air Arm aircraft,with a full crew was practising dive bombing at the Ferny Ness gunners range.

The plane was a Vought Chesapeake, the British name for the United States Vindicator, an obsolete naval dive bomber used as a target tug.

After a successful first pass, it returned for a second one, lost control and crashed into a bus full of passengers.

The crew were all killed as well as reportedly two merchant seamen on the bus which was taking many naval men back from the range itself.

The only known local casualty was the bus driver, a 43-year-old man from Tranent, named as David Mathieson.

The London Times carried a report of the tragedy two days later under the headline "AIRCRAFT CRASH ON NAVY BUS - Ten Servicemen and Driver Killed".

It reported that "An aircraft crashed into a stationary bus in south-east Scotland on Tuesday afternoon, setting the bus on fire.

The accident happened shortly after 4 o'clock, when naval ratings who were undergoing a gunnery course at a naval depot had settled down in the bus for the return journey after a day's work. The occupants of the aeroplane were among those killed"

It did not state where the accident happened because of security at the time and, again, the number of fatalities is different.

It was claimed a further 18 people on the bus were taken to hospital, many with serious injuries.

Ferny Ness, which was often referred to as Fernieness in reports at the time, is a headland which separates Longniddry Bents from Gosford Bay and is now home to the Bents No3 car park.

At the time of World War 2 it was used as a naval gunnery practice range and dive bombing range by the Fleet Air Arm.

to train pilots and their crew.

Anti-tank defences can still clearly be found at the site, installed to prevent an invasion from the water.

Some of those who died were laid to rest at Seafield Cememtery, in Edinburgh, while most were returned to their homes.