During the morning of 30th August 1917 this No.46 Training Squadron, Royal Flying Corps aeroplane took off from Catterick aerodrome at 07.00hrs. It suffered engine trouble while flying in the Catterick area, the pilot attempted to make a forced landing near Kirby Fleetham but the aeroplane lost flying speed and stalled, then subsequently dived sixty feet into the ground at 07.20hrs. The pilot was killed.
Pilot - Sgt Reginald John Malone RFC (37556), aged 17. Buried Catterick Cemetery, Yorkshire.
Reginald Malone was the son of Capt.J.R.M.Malone and Mrs. Ethel Malone, of Westmeath and was born in Dublin, Ireland.
This photograph appeared in Brian Rapier's "White Rose Base" book but he did not attempt to identify it other than stating it was a DH.4 crash at Catterick. Given the state of the damage it is likely to show a fatal crash and it may well be DH.4 A7617 that crashed at Catterick. It could also be DH.4 A7585 that crashed near Kirby Fleetham.