R.E.8 B4064 near Catterick.
During the evening of 21st April 1918 this No.52 Training Squadron aeroplane was being flown on a training exercise that involved the pilot practicing making landings at Catterick aerodrome. At 19.15hrs the engine failed when it was at low height. In making a turn to avoid houses the aeroplane stalled and it dived into the ground. The pilot was killed in the crash. His death was registered in the Richmond district which suggests it was near the aerodrome site.
Pilot - Lt Philip Ambrose Favard Ridgway RAF, aged 19. Buried Hull Western Cemetery, Yorkshire (376.36335).
Philip Ridgway was born on 7th May 1898 in the Hull area. His family lived off Beverley Road, Hull. He was a student in Hull when he initially enlisted into the Army Service Corps in September 1916 but then enlisted as a Royal Flying Corps Cadet and was later granted a commission on 8th November 1917. When the RAF was formed in April 1918 he transferred from the RFC. His third name "Favand" is spelt as such on his service records but CWGC spell it "Favard". Given that his mother's family was Favard I feel this is correct.
