On Wednesday, 14th November 1917 this No.49 Training Squadron, Royal Flying Corps took off from Doncaster aerodrome at around 10.20hrs and was being flown in the area just south of Doncaster aerodrome at 10.45hrs when the pilot lost control around a mile south of Doncaster. After around 500 feet above the ground the aeroplane sideslipped and began to dive toward the ground. The left wing was seen to break away and may have been the initial reason for the loss of control or as a result of stresses in attempting to pull out of the dive. Pieces of the aeroplane were seen to break away as it fell. The two airmen flying in it were killed in the resulting crash which occurred around a mile south of the aerodrome site, which also saw the wreckage catch fire. The pupil attempted to jump out just before it crashed and his body was found a short distance from the wreckage.
Pilot (instructor) - Lt Benjamin Wynford Philipps RFC, aged 24. Buried Newport Cemetery, Shropshire.
Pilot (pupil) - 2Lt John William Barr RFC, aged 18. Buried Sunderland (Bishopwearmouth) Cemetery, Durham.
John Barr was born on 1st January 1899.