On 11th December 1943 this aircraft developed engine trouble whilst on torpedo patrol (called "Rover Patrol") over North Sea. The pilot made for the nearest land and saw the lights of what he probably thought was an airfield but they were the lights of the dummy airfield (Q.Site) near Lazenby Steps, situated close to the mouth of the River Tees. As the aircraft attempted to land on this boggy location it was wrecked and caught fire on touching down. RAF Hospital Northallerton attended the scene and reported that the aircraft had crashed on a railway line whilst flying in the dark. Their ORB stated that the pilot was killed instantly but the navigator had initially survived suffering severe head injuries. The ORB also stated "the mobile surgical unit was summoned and transfused the patient 3 minutes after arrival after the local hospital had made 11 fruitless attempts. He recovered sufficiently to be brought into hospital where he died"" the next day. Damage to the aircraft was put at Cat.E2/FB (burnt).

Beaufighter JL637 was built to contract B85570/40 by Brstol Aeroplane Co Ltd at it's factory at Old Mixon, Weston Super Mare. It was delivered to the RAF in November 1943 and after acceptance at MU was issued to 254 Squadron (according to official records this unit ceased operating Mk.VI Beaufighters in October 1943 but they almost certainly would have had some on charge whilst they converted to the Mk.X's.)

Pilot - F/O Thomas Sowerbutts RAFVR (135607), aged 27, of Blackburn. Killed instantly. Buried Mellor, Lancashire.

Navigator - Sgt Henry N Pepper RAFVR (1530968), aged 22, of Rochdale. Pulled clear of burning wreckage by civilians but died of his injuries two days later. Buried Prestwich Churchyard, Lancashire.