BE2c 1144 near Thirsk.
On 4th November 1915 this aircraft was being delivered to Whitley Bay from its maker's, Blackburn of Leeds,
when it suffered engine failure in a rainstorm in the Thirsk area. A force-landing was made near Thirsk but
the aircraft overturned amd was damaged. It was boxed up and returned to Blackburn's by rail for repair, where
it arrived on 10th November 1915. A probable location for this landing could well have been Thirsk racecourse.
Pilot - FSL Alan M Waistell RNAS, of Northallerton, Yorkshire.
He was awarded the DSC for his actions when he was a F/Lt on the night of 17th October 1917 he carried out a bombing
raid on Chanak. The citation printed in the London Gazette dated 28th February 1918 tells the story, it reads..
"For determination and pluck shown by him in carrying out a bombing raid on Chanak on the night of the 17th October
1917. In spite of the fact that there was no moon and that the weather conditions were so adverse that the other
pilots were unable to reach the objective, he succeeded in reaching Chanak and in dropping his bombs. On the
return journey he hit the side of a mountain, being unable to see it on account of the darkness, his machine
catching fire on crashing. Although severely injured about the face and knee he was able to climb out of the
machine and eventually reach the aerodrome, having ridden 10 miles over extremely rough country with a badly lacerated knee.”
These injuries probably cut short his flying career. He was made a temporary Staff Officer 3rd Class on 21st January
1919 but relinquished his commission on 10th July 1920, which he made as a result of ill health. He was permitted to retain
his rank of F/Lt. He retired from the RAF on account of ill health caused by wounds. His engagement to Honora Christian
was reported in Flight Magazine of 16th November 1922 with a note that they were to be married in India in March 1923.
His medals were put up for sale in 2010 for an asking price of £6,500.
Alan Murray Waistell was born on 4th January 1889, he was the youngest son of Charles Waistell, of
Northallerton, North Yorkshire. There was a solicitor in Northallerton of the same name towards the
end of the nineteenth centuary and both men were probably one and the same. Alan Waistell
initially served in the 4th Royal Warwickshire Regiment
but transferred to the RNAS. He passed his Aviators Certificate on 24th March 1915 in a Maurice Farman
aircraft at the Military School, Farnborough gaining Certificate No.1164 and holding the rank of Second
Lieut at the time. His rank of Temporary F/Sub Lt was made permanent on 18th October 1915, he later rose to
Flt/Cmdr.
BE2c 1144 was built to contract C.P.58282/14/X19112 but crashed on it's delivery flight to Whitley Bay (detailed above). From here it was probably put onto a train and taken to Blackburn's where it was re-erected and it was delivered to RNAS Scarborough on 28th January 1916 where upon
it suffered damaged on landing (also detailed on this website). It was again repaired and
transferred to RNAS Hornsea on 1st February 1916 and back to Scarborough on the 10th February. It
carried out an anti-Zeppelin patrol on the 11th February 1916. On the 29th March 1916 it was
transferred to RNAS Redcar for a day. It then returned to Scarborough before carrying out
another anti-Zeppelin patarol on the 5th April 1916. Afew days later it was transferred back
to Hornsea where it was damaged in a strong gale on the 16th April 1916. It was again repaired
and returned to Scarborough. It was again repaired and went on another anti-Zeppelin patrol
on the night of 27th/28th November 1916
and again crashed on landing at Scarborough (also detailed on this website). The aircraft was again repaired and transferred to Redcar
on 5th February 1917 and was finally deleted from stock on 4th May 1917.