On 29th September 1941 this No.20 Elementary Flying Training School aircraft was damaged in a force-landing near Middleham at 13.40hrs while the pilot was on a training flight.
The propeller and the lower wings of the aircraft were damaged but the pilot is believed to have escaped injury. The exact location for
this incident is not yet known. The aircraft was repaired and continued in it's military service until being sold off becoming G-ASSC.
Pilot - LAC James Donald Chetwynd Liggat RAFVR (1209382).
James Liggat was born on 10th January 1920 at Ipswich, Suffolk and was the son of James and Margaret Stewart Liggat. Both his parents were born in Scotland but the family was living in Norwich, Norfolk in the 1921 census. He received a commission to the rank of P/O on probation (emergency) on 26th August 1942, he rose through the ranks firstly to F/O on probation (war subs) on 26th February 1942 and to F/Lt (war subs) on 26th August 1944. He transferred to the Admin and Special Duties Branch on 7th June 1945 but left the RAF as a F/Lt due to being medically unfit on 26th January 1946. He married twice; once in London in 1940 and again in London in 1966 (to actress Lorraine Clewes). He became a playwright (known as Jimmy Liggat), he worked as casting director on various well known films including The Shining, A Clockwork Orange and Dr.No. he died in the Richmond upon Thames area of Surrey on 28th September 1981 and is buried at Teddington Cemetery.
Tiger Moth R4776 was built to Contract 20916/39 by The De Havilland Aircraft Co. Ltd. at Hatfield and was awaiting collection in December 1939. It was taken on charge by the RAF and by 7 EFTS at Desford in early 1940 and on 17th June 1941 Cat.B/FA damage was recorded when it landed on top of Tiger Moth BB860 at Desford. It was taken away and repaired in works and on completion of the repair it was taken on charge by 20 EFTS at Yeadon. As a result of the landing at Middleham on 29th September 1941 Cat.B/FA was recorded and it was again taken away by road and repaired in works. On completion of this repair it was taken on charge by 4 EFTS at Brough and remained with that unit for the duration of WW2. On 10th March 1947 4 EFTS was re-designated 4 RFS, on 31st March 1948 4 RFS disbanded at Brough and the aircraft was transferred to 12 RFS at Filton on or about 1st April 1948. 12 RFS disbanded at Filton on 31st March 1953 and the aircraft was placed into long term MU storage. On 27th April 1964 the aircraft was sold to Rollason Aircraft & Engines Ltd. at Croydon and registered as G-ASSC on the UK civilian register. On 8th June 1964 the registration was cancelled, on 19th June 1964 it was registered to J.E.Childs and J.D.Menzies (no airfield stated), on 8th June 1967 the registration was again cancelled. On 25th July 1967 it was registered to J.D.Menzies (no airfield stated) and the registration was cancelled on 14th September 1971 as it was sold to the USA where it was registered as N81DH in the USA but no details are known at present when this page was last updated. On 15th April 1990 the US registration was cancelled as it was sold to Sweden. On 31st May 1990 the aircraft was registered as SE-AMY to A.G.Elmgren at Lidingo, Sweden, it was slightly damaged on 26th August 1990 (Cat.B/FA) when it stalled on approach to Finspangsvagen and crashed into dense forest. It took some time to repair at Vasteras which was completed in May 1994. On 12th April 2006 the aircraft was registered to H.G.Lund at Anyang and this registration is believed current as of August 2014 when this page was last updated.
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