Grunau Baby and Scud II gliders at Sutton Bank.
On Sunday, 31st July 1938 two gliders collided at 300 feet over Sutton Bank while both pilots were undertaking the first Advanced Gliding Course to be ran at Sutton Bank. A Scud II glider struck the tail of a Grunau, the Scud II lost it's front end and initially went out of control but it's pilot was able to regain some form of control and opted to try and stall the aircraft over trees to cushion a landing. This was successful and the pilot climbed down from the trees to safety. The Grunau had it's tail section torn off and control was immediately lost, the glider crashed in braken near the gliding club and the pilot was not seriously injured. This was the first gliding mid-air collision in the history of British Gliding. The incident was witnessed by club member Mr Angus Pick who was also undertaking the Advanced Course at the time who recounted what he saw to local newspapers. he was in the air at the time and above the other gliders and was the only witness to the collission. Mr Pick was sadly killed in a flying accident in 1939.
Pilot of Grunau - Mr William "Billy" C Sharpe, of Apperley Bridge, Bradford.
Pilot of Scud II - Mr W Rex Horsfield, of Welwyn Garden City, London.
The Scud II in trees near Sutton Bank (photograph found in Sailplane and Glider magazine).
William Sharpe returned to flying gliders at Sutton Bank after the Second World War, in 1948 he acted as a chief instructor.
