Aircraft accidents in Yorkshire.

Hawker Demon K5693 near Flaxton, York.

On 4th February 1939 the pilot of this Demon aircraft was on a cross-country training exercise and flying from Oxford to Catterick. Whilst over the Yorkshire area mist came down reducing visibility so the pilot force landed the aircraft near Flaxton, but on trying to land in a field the tail of the plane clipped a tree and the aircraft pancaked into the ground. The aircraft was later recovered and the airframe was then used for ground instruction training. This information is taken from the RAF's investigation.

Oddly the Yorkshire Air Museum's crash database quote a completely different and incorrect set of events and dispite me attempting to get their records corrected I have had no response in return. They claim that the aircraft was operating with the Army over Strensall Common when the engine failed, the pilot attempted a force landed at nearby Flaxton but hit the tree whilst doing this landing.

Pilot - P/O Douglas R Gamblen RAF (39657). Slightly injured.

Douglas Gamblen was educated at the Portsmouth Grammar School from 1925-1930 and he joined the RAF in March 1937 and trained at 10 FTS Tern Hill from 9 May 1937. He was posted to 41 Squadron as an Acting P/O in November 1937, and then to Manston for a Parachute Packing Course in February 1938. He was confirmed in the rank P/O in March 1938, then joined the SHQ staff in Catterick on 10 June 1938. He was posted to 41 Squadron again in early 1940 and was posted missing flying Spitfire N3038 following a combat with Ju87s and Bf109s over Dover at 07.45hrs on 29 July 1940. His body was never found and he is commemerated on the Runnymede Memorial.

At the time of this landing accident near Flaxton he had a total of 266 hours flying time when this but only five hours of these were on the Demon type. He gained his Wings in September 1937 at White Waltham.

Demon K5693 was built to contract 389428/35 by Boulton & Paul Ltd at Wolverhampton and delivered directly to 607 Squadron at Usworth on 18th January 1937. On 28th March 1937 it sustained Cat.R/FA damage when it overshot a landing at Usworth and collided with a fence but it was believed repaired on site. It transferred to 41 Squadron at Catterick on 12th December 1938 and suffered it's Cat.W/FA accident on 4th February 1939 near Flaxton. The aircraft was dismantled on site and it's remains were considered suitable for instructional use and it was allotted the "M" serial 1379M and was delivered to Locking on 31st March 1939. No further record after this exists.