Meteor WD654 near Huby, Easingwold.

On 21st January 1953 the crew of this aircraft were forced to eject after their aircraft ran out of fuel on returning to base of Linton on Ouse. having been prevented from landing there because of poor weather. They baled out over the Huby area but the pilot struck part of the plane with his right knee on doing so and severely injured himself. Both airmen landed in trees. The pilot became trapped seventy feet up a larch tree in an area of woodland on the New Parks estate, south west of Huby, where he remained for two hours until he was rescued by fireman Mr A. Robinson from York with the use of a turntable ladder. Prior to being rescued, three forestry workers had tried to help the severely injured airman; sixteen year old Ian Spencer of York, George Bielby of Wheldrake and Charles Whitehead of Robin Lane, Huby had alerted the emergency services after firstly trying a rescue attempt with a ladder brought from a nearby farm. The navigator also had some trouble when he ejected, he also landed in a tree near Easingwold but was able to free himself and was not injured. The aircraft crashed in a field half a mile from the pilot, it created a nine feet deep crater and disintergated on impact. The injured pilot was taken to York City General Hospital suffering from severe injuries, he remained there for some time, with a condition described as "very ill" but it is thought that he recovered. I have do not know the exact location of the where the aircraft came down.

Pilot - P/O Tony Whitaker RAF (4050759), aged 20, of ? Survived, suffered severe injuries to his foot which resulted in it being amputated.

Nav / Rad - F/O P J Wright RAF, aged ? Of ? Uninjured.