On 22nd July 1918 the pilot of this No.2 Fighting School aeroplane was taking off from Marske airfield when a swing developed. The pilot managed to get airborne but it then stalled and with control lost it side-slipped into the ground. A fire broke out and sadly the pilot lost his life as a result of this accident.
Pilot - 2Lt Francois Joseph Belley RAF, aged 24. Buried Marske St.Germain Churchyard.
Francois Belley was born on 13th December 1894 and was the son of lawyer and politician the Hon Louis de Gonzague Belley KC. He was from Quebec City, Canada and on his service file it states that he attended the School of Aerial Gunnery in Canada. He was appointed to a commssion to the rank of temporary Second Lieut (on probation) in the Royal Flying Corps on 27th November 1917 then transferred to the RAF when it formed in April 1918. He had flown with 92 Squadron and 56 Training Squadron before being posted to No.2 Fighting School on 11th July 1918.
The CWGC database states that he held both the Military Cross and the Air Force Cross. I can find no evidence that he was awarded either and his gravestone shows neither.