Anson LT595 at Clifton airfield, York.
On 1st June 1944 this Anson swung out of control on take off from Clifton airfield and
the tail wheel broke off, a further swing developed and the undercarriage collapsed at 13.45hrs.
The aircraft was being used to ferry a number of pilots to an unknown location.
The damage sustained was deemed beyond economical repair. An investigation found the mountings holding the wheel on had
rotted from the inside and the wheel section had sheared off at the weld.
Pilot - P/O William S Douglas RAFVR (171007). Uninjured.
Eight passengers were on board, one was seriously injured, names unknown.
William Douglas received his commission to P/O on probation (emergency) on 10th January 1944,
and F/O (on an unknown date) and then F/Lt (war subs) on 10th January 1946.
He was appointed to a permanent commmission in the RAF on 1st April 1952 to the rank of F/Lt.
As this rank he was given the Queen's Commendation for Valuable Service in the Air on Her
Majesty's Coronation on 1st June 1953 and again on Her Majesty's Birthday list on 11th June 1960.
He retired from the RAF on 7th July 1965.
Anson LT595 was built to contract B137211/40 by A.V. Roe Ltd at Yeadon and was delivered to 275 Squadron at Valley for Coastal Command
duties in April 1943. It transferred to A&AEE at Boscombe Down later in 1943 for transportation duties but then returned to 275 Squadron
who were still at Valley. It later moved with the unit to Warmwell on 14th April 1944 but shortly after transferred to 4 Delivery Flight
at Clifton. In the incident reported above damage was deemed serious enough for Cat.E2/FA damage to be recorded and it was written off.