Meteor WA663 near East and West Heslerton, Malton.

On 17th March 1952 a pupil pilot was undertaking a daytime training flight flying from Full Sutton airfield with an instructor. After an hour in the air and flying in thick cloud they contacted base to ask for their position to be given using the radar at base. The reply was that they were flying over base but this was incorrect and the aircraft was infact no-where near base. Full Sutton control spent some time attempting to then contact the aircraft it was found to have force-landed after running out of fuel near the railway line at Heslerton. A number of errors by ground crew in setting the aircraft's radio kit had been made and this was blamed for the error in not plotting their correct position. Other errors by ground crew resulted in the aircraft not being able to contact base. The pilot was given a green endorsment for his actions and no blame was attached to him. The two airmen were uninjured. The aircraft is believed to have crash landed on West Heslerton Carr just east of Carr House Farm. An RAF guard was placed on the aircraft until it was removed and taken away for repair.

Mr David Wakeley (Webmaster of www.ryedale.co.uk) recounted his memories to me in 2004 of seeing this aircraft in the field in the mid-1950s, I thank him for this.

Instructor Pilot - Sgt R F Patching RAF (3030945). Uninjured.

Student Pilot - P/O Leslie S Naile RAF (3130563). Uninjured.