BE2c 1144 at Scarborough.
This aircraft was landing at Scarborough on 28th November 1916 when it crashed
at 01.30hrs. The pilot had just undertaken an anti-Zeppelin patrol having taken off
at 00.40hrs and returned to base without success. The aircraft was slightly damaged and
was soon repaired.
Pilot - FSL John F Roche RNAS, suffered from shock.
John Francis Roche had gained his aviators certificate at the Beatty School, Hendon on 12th May 1915 (certificate no.1234).
Little is known about his time in the First World War, he survived the conflict and joined the RAF. He remained in the RAF
until at least 1922.
BE2c 1144 was built to contract C.P.58282/14/X19112 but crashed at Thirsk on it's
delivery flight to Whitley Bay from the makers.
It was re-erected at Blackburn's and delivered to RNAS Scarborough on 28th January 1916
where upon it suffered damaged on landing (both incidents are detailed on this website). It was again repaired and
transferred to RNAS Hornsea on 1st February 1916 and back to Scarborough on 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 (detailed above). The aircraft was again repaired and transferred to Redcar
on 5th February 1917 and was finally deleted from stock on 4th May 1917.