Airco DH.6 A9753 near Bedale.
During the morning of 31st May 1918 this 46 Training Squadron was being flown to test the engine in the general area of Catterick, where the unit was based, when engine trouble caused the pilot to make a forced landing. Where this forced landing was made is not known. At 07.25hrs the pilot attempted to restart the engine but had not chocked the wheels and had left the throttle position to far forward. The engine started and the aeroplane began to move forward, in attempting to stop the aeroplane running away the was struck on the head by the propeller and killed. This incident did not occur at or near to Catterick aerodrome because the pilot's death was registered in the Bedale district, not Richmond district which is where Catterick lies. Where it occurred in the Bedale district is not known.
Pilot - 2Lt John James Jones MM RAF, aged 23. Buried Liverpool (Allerton) Cemetery, Merseyside.
John Jones was born on 14th September 1894 and was the son of John (Snr) and Margaret Jones, of Sandhurst Street, Dingle, Liverpool. He was a student at Liverpool University until July 1914 and initially served in the army. I am struggling to pin down which army regiment he served, when he went to France and when he was awarded the Military Medal. His RFC service records give little information other than a possible "R.E." (Royal Engineers). He transferred to the Royal Flying Corps in October 1917 and received a commission to the rank of 2nd Lieut on 23rd February 1918. He was posted to No.68 Training Squadron at Tadcaster in March 1918 and then to No.46 Training Squadron on 3rd April 1918 which also saw him transfer to the RAF when it formed the same month. He is commemorated on a memorial at St Charles Church, Aigburth.