Avro 504a A2636 near Cherry Burton.
During the afternoon of 21st April 1918 at least three aeroplanes of No.72 Training Squadron undertook a training exercise. At 14.45hrs Avro 504 A2636 and D194 collided in midair in the Cherry Burton area. Both pilots lost control and the two aeroplanes fell near Cherry Burton killing all flying in them. It was believed that Lt Howell (flying D194) had mistaken the aeroplane being flown by 2Lt Robinson (A2636) for that being flown by 2Lt Pearce, with whom he had previously arranged to undertake a practice dog fight and that Lt Howell then miscalculated his turn and struck A2636.
Pilot - 2Lt John Alfred Clayton RAF, aged 26. Buried Dawley Magna Churchyard, Shropshire.
Pilot (instructor) - Lt Harry Estcourt Robinson RAF, aged 19. Buried Twickenham Cemetery, Middlesex.
John Clayton was born on 8th January 1892 and was the son of John and Lucilla Clayton, of Horsehay, Shropshire. He initially enlisted into the Army Service Corps in August 1914 and served in France for some time. He later received a commission. He appears to have transferred to the Royal Flying Corps in Summer and was later granted a commission on 20th January 1918. He was posted to No.68 Training Squadron shortly after. When he was posted to No.72 Training Squadron is not stated on his service file.
Harry Robinson was born on 26th November 1898 in Hayes, Middlesex and was the son of Major James Estcourt and Venetia Robinson. He was a student until September 1916 at Wellington College, Berkshire but what he then did is unclear, though it was probably army-related. He transferred to the Royal Flying Corps in March 1917 and received a commission in the Royal Flying Corps on 26th June 1917. Having then trained at No.14 Training Squadron he served with No.80 Squadron and No.81 Squadron. On 26th January 1918 he was posted to No.72 Training Squadron and a few weeks later qualified as an assistant instructor.