On 13th December 1917 this aircraft crashed near Potto and was badly damaged but the pilot survived, nothing more is known about the incident.
Pilot - Probationary F/O Sydney Castle-Smith RNAS. Injured.
Sydney Castle-Smith entered the RNAS on 15th August 1917. He later transferred to the RAF and was granted a temporary commission as Second Lt on 17th April 1918. He relinquished his commission on account of ill health sustained on active service on 8th January 1919. He probably married in the Bromley area of Kent in 1925 where he sadly died later the same year. It could be that he died as a result of long term complications which resulted from him initially leaving the RAF in 1919. It is not known where or when he was born.
Avro 504 N5256 was built to contracts C.P.120735/16 & C.P.121726 by The Sunbeam Motor Co. at Wolverhampton and built as an Avro 504B but converted to a 504H (Dual Control) before delivery. It was delivered to RNAS Redcar by rail on 4th December 1916. After erection and testing it was accepted by RNAS Flying School. It was at RNAS Scarborough on 29th January 1917 but was back at Redcar on 30th January. It suffered minor damage in a crash at Redcar on 3rd February 1917 and remained on charge at Redcar and was repaired. The aircraft was deleted on 15th December 1917 following inspection after the accident at Potto.