Airco DH.2 7913 near Catterick.

On Tuesday, 1st May 1917 this No.6 Reserve Squadron, Royal Flying Corps aeroplane was being flown in the Catterick area and was around 700 feet above the ground when a turn was made. The engine either cut out or was stopped with the nose of the aeroplane facing upward just before the turn was attempted, a stall occurred and the aeroplane made a flat spin. The pilot lost control and it crashed a short time later in the Catterick area. The pilot was killed in the crash. It was possibly his first solo flight. The pilot's inquest was heard at Scotton, which could suggest that the crash occurred in this vacinity.

Pilot - 2Lt Lawrence Edgar Baker RFC, aged 26. Buried Whitley Bay (Hartley South) Cemetery, Northumberland.

Lawrence Baker had initially served in the Honourable Artillery Company before transferring to the Royal Flying Corps in Summer 1916. His brother in law was vicar of Whitley Bay at the time of his death

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