This aircraft was one of a twelve of Harts returning home to Montrose on 12th April 1937 after their unit, 8 FTS had been on a three week detachment to the ranges at Sutton Bridge, Lincolnshire for training exercises. Before taking off they were warned about patchy fog further north and to close up in a tight formation should they encounter problems with visibilty. It seems likely this aircraft had landed at Catfoss to refuel before continuing north following the coastline. This was a route known to be flown in the 1930s when navigation aids were poor. Catfoss airfield was close enough to the coast to be used for refuelling purposes. After take off from Catfoss the fog closed in and was severely effected visibility. As ordered the pilots formed a tight formation with the aim of sticking close to each other to fly through the cloud and emerge later further up the coast. As the aircraft were flying so closely one aircraft got too close to another leaving the pilot of this second aircraft to climb to avoid it and as a result out of the fog but now alone at around 7,500 feet. Having now climbed out of the fog this aircraft had now lost his formation and having only qualified as a pilot six months previously the pilot opted to find his formation by descending again into the cloud. A risky move not knowing if they were over land or sea and a move which would cost many an experienced airman his life in the War which would come only two years later. In this case the Hart levelled out above the sea and visibility was only fifty feet at that height. The observer/mechanic in the rear seat had worked out by the position of the sun that they were flying roughly north-easterly and they should head west to pick up land again. They had to pull up to avoid cliffs on land-fall near Robin Hoods Bay and soon after again to avoid two men with pitch forks on a haystack and the steeple of a church nearby. A force-landing had to be made because of the fuel running low and a further circuit of the village was made before the pilot put the aircraft down on the cliff top where upon it crashed through a fence and ended up at the top of a railway cutting. Both airmen were uninjured and made their way to the a nearby farm and it then became apparent where they were. The aircraft had came to rest on the top of a railway embankment below Bay Ness Farm, Robin Hoods Bay.

A happy ending to this incident is that a young lady at Bay Ness Farm where the two airmen found their way to fell in love with the observer and two years later they were married at St Stephen's Church, the church which the aircraft had narrowly missed before landing.

Hawker Hart K4409 was built by Glosters at Hucclecote to contract 322854/34 but was ordered as an Audax but completed as a Hart (Special). It was delivered to 40 Squadron at Abingdon on 15th November 1935 before being transferred to 8 FTS at Montrose on 5th May 1936. It sustained Cat.R/FA in the incident at Robin Hoods Bay. It was repaired on site and flown out. It was again down in Yorkshire in February 1938 and sustained a second accident (Cat.R/FA again) when it overshot a landing at Catfoss after the pilot braked too hard and overturned on 21st Febraury 1938. Again it was repaired on site but was later transferred to 1 FTS at Leuchars on 25th October 1938 and then to 7 SFTS at Peterborough on 20th November 1939. It passed to 24 MU at Ternhill where it was stored until the aircraft became instructional airframe 2702M on 30th September 1941 and was used for ground instructional training after which nothing more is known.

Pilot - Acting P/O Michael James Beaumont Young RAF (39152).

Observer - AC Neil Campbell RAF.

The aircraft came to a halt in this area, my thanks to Mr Mike Richardson, nephew of the observer (and grandson of the owner of Bay Ness Farm) for contacting me, for making me aware of this incident and for the information and photograph he has been able to provide to ensure it is documented on this website.