Avro 504 C745 near Doncaster aerodrome.
During the morning of 28th June 1918 this No.49 Training Squadron aeroplane was being test flown in the general area of Doncaster aerodrome, where it was based, when the engine began to fail. The pilot turned back toward the aerodrome but it appears to have then stalled and dived into the ground at 11.55hrs. Both men flying in it died as a result of the crash; Smith being killed instantly while Slack died while being transported to hospital.
Pilot (Instructor) - Lt George William Slack / (Alias) Charles Thomas Holt RAF, aged 34. Buried Doncaster (Hyde Park) Cemetery, Yorkshire (MX.399).
Passenger / Mechanic - Sgt Major Charles Smith RAF (1715), aged 31. Buried Doncaster (Hyde Park) Cemetery, Yorkshire (MX.398).
Exactly why George Slack served under an alias is unclear. He was born George Slack on 11th October 1883 at Newark, Nottinghamshire and was a son of William and Rosanna (nee Priestley) Slack. He worked for the Hall and City Shipping Line in Liverpool from 1912 to 1914. He appears to have been using the two names (George William Slack and also George William Holt) by 1914 as, under the name Charles Thomas Holt, he enlisted into the Royal Flying Corps as a mechanic and entered France on 6th November 1914 which then qualified him for the award of the 1914 Star. He married Celestia Alvera Smith in 1916 in Newcastle and was also using the two names (George William Slack and also George William Holt) as both have marriage registrations. He appears to have remustered for pilot training in the Royal Flying Corps in late 1917 / early 1918 and was granted a commission on 4th February 1918. His service file states he served with 15 Reserve Squadron, 41 Reserve Squadron and 74 Squadron but gives no dates (probably as a mechanic), nor is the date he was posted to No.49 Training Squadron.
Little is known about Charles Smith other than that he was the son of Charles and Louisa Smith, of Putney, London. He too was an early Royal Flying Corps member. On 5th October 1914 he entering France which also saw him qualify for the 1914 Star medal. His rank given in newspapers that recorded his death is that of Sgt Major and also Chief Master Mechanic. CWGC record the former.