At 12.00hrs on 20th May 1918 this No.2 School of Special Flying aeroplane crashed near Redcar when the pilot failed to pull out of a deliberate spin. The aeroplane was destroyed and the pilot was killed.
Pilot - Capt John Alexander MacDonald Allan RAF, aged 23. Buried Redcar Cemetery, Yorkshire.
John Allan was born on 26th November 1894 at Christchurch, New Zealand and was a sheep farmer when he enlisted for miltary service. He enlisted into the RNAS and was granted a commission on 25th January 1916. He learnt to fly at RNAS Chingford where he was awarded a Royal Aero Club Aviators' Certificate (Cert.No.3040) on 3rd June 1916. He then underwent seaplane training but switched to land planes. He later served in France with No.8 Squadron RNAS. On 13th July 1917 he was wounded in combat on a flight over German lines when he crashed with his aeroplane on fire, in this incident he suffered burns to his legs but survived but this saw him posted back to England and into various hospitals. He was initially posted to Redcar for ground duties on 3rd December 1917 and at that time was the RNAS Flying School operating there. In January 1918 he requested that he be assessed for active service again but was found to suffer muscle cramps in his legs which flying at high altitudes and it was recommended that he be given some duty that will not fly at altitude, instructor duties were suggested as suitable. He then begun training as an instructor and left Redcar without ever flying but went to Manston to requalify. The RNAS became part of the RAF on 1st April 1918 and he was posted back to Redcar on 6th May 1918 and joined the Instructor School. The Instructor School became No.2 School of Special Flying on 18th May 1918. His gravestone is in need of some love.
The CWGC lists him as serving with the 63rd Training Squadron at the time of his death.
Sopwith Camel B5693 was built by Clayton & Shuttleworth Ltd of Lincoln and was delivered to C.S.D. at White City in December 1917. After a brief period in service it was sent to Hendon for repair on 22nd December 1917 and then issued to RNAS East Fortune for assembly and use with the Home Defence Flight. It was later transferred to RNAS Flying School at Redcar on 22nd March 1918. This became the Instructor School when the RAF formed in April 1918 and then became No.2 School of Special Flying on 18th May 1918. It was not repaired following this accident on 20th May 1918.