Miles M3A Falcon Major G-AENG at Scarborough Castle.
Mile Falcon G-AENG (photo via Jim Rudland).
On 10th September 1937 this Miles Falcon took off from Hatfield airfield for the 1442 mile air-race
around the Great Britain and Ireland, the "Kings Cup Air Race". The race would have taken two days to
complete. Of the twent seven aircraft taking part this year, this Falcon was one of the last to take off
at number twenty four in the queue. The aircraft eventually flew north and made for Scarborough Castle
as this was one the registration points it had to pass over. The aircraft was seen to fly out wider
than the other aircraft had previously done that day over the headland, and at a height of 150 feet
the aircraft suddenly became caught in severe turbulance. It was seen to roll badly and rise about fifty
feet, it then failed to level out and then lost height. The aircraft then crashed next to
Scarborough Castle Walls. One of the two on board was thrown out of the aircraft just before impact,
he was killed with this impact with the ground but his body then rolled off the cliff top and
landed near a cafe on Marine Drive, 300 feet below. The other pilot was found in the wreckage and he also
had been killed instantly. The aircraft had struck the ground nose/belly first and the engine broke off and
had continued for another twenty five feet, the aircraft was well broken up in the crash though the number
"24" was still visable in the wreckage. The Coroner recorded a verdict of accidental death on both men. It was reported that
five other aircraft made forced landings during the race.
This Miles Falcon was built by Phillips & Powis Ltd at Woodley and registered to them on
10th September 1936. It was written off soon after this crash.
Pilot - W/Cdr Edward G Hilton AFC DFC, aged 41, of England. Killed, found in wreckage.
Passenger - W/Cdr Percy Clark Sherren, MC and Bar, aged 44, of Prince of Wales Island, Canada. Killed, thrown from aircraft.
A general photograph of Scarborough with the castle on the headland in the centre in the photograph above.
The castle headland shown from the lighthouse.
The aircraft moments before impact.
The colour photo above shows the same bit of wall shown in the old photo above, although taken from a slightly different angle it
is clearly the same bit of wall.
The aircraft after the crash. These two photographs were kindly loaned to me by Mr A N Spink
and remain his property and cannot be used elsewhere without permission. Please respect his wishes.
W/Cdr Sherren was a Canadian was born in 1893. He begun a military career in 1914 and was wounded in France in 1915. After recovereing in England he
was seconded to the RFC in 1916 and had won his Military Cross (Gazetted on 25th November 1916) and Bar (Gazetted on 4th June 1917)
He originally served with the Canadian Infantry in France before being seconded to the RFC in May 1916. After the Great War he was granted a permenant commission in the RAF and
gained the India General Service Medal with Clasp for serving in Waziriston between 1921 and 1924. He then resigned from flying
duties. In 1930 he was made a Wing Commander and commanded 10 Squadron for three years. In November 1934 he was appointed a desk
job at the Home Aircraft Depot at Henlow, months after commanding No.1 Armament Training Camp, based at Catfoss, Yorkshire. He retired in June 1936 but continued to fly.
He left a widow and was forty four years old. His burial location is not known.
W/Cdr Hilton was only a month from his forty second birthday. He was born in London and was educated at Malvern and at University College,
London. During the First World War he served with the 14th Battalion London Regiment before receiving commision into the East Yorkshire Regiment. He joined
the RFC in France in 1917 as an Observer. He graduated as a pilot in 1918 and transferred to the RAF and served in Egypt and Iraq between 1919 and 1923, he was
decorated in 1923 for services in Kurdistan. He returned to the UK to Martlesham and then returned to Egypt in 1929 for five years with 216 Squadron.
He returned to Martlesham five years later and flew as a pilot on experimental aircraft. He was described as a "brilliant pilot". Just prior to his death he was
appointed into the Air Minstry's Dept of Research and Development. He had over 5000 hours flying to his name. He left a widow and a son, he was forty one years old.
