This aeroplane crashed into the North Sea and I've tried to not include incidents that occurred off the Yorkshire Coast purely because there are many many thousands of incidents on land that require my attention. In this case most of the information shown here was given to me so I have created the webpage.
On 29th September 1918 this aeroplane was flown as part of an exercise with No.2 Fighting School, based at Marske. The pilot was carrying out stunt-flying in the Redcar area while he was either in the process of being filmed, or practicing a routine which was to be filmed so an instructional film could be put together. While flying at 1000 feet the pilot's clothing became entangled in the controls which caused them to jam and it entered a dive from which the pilot was unable to recover. At 10.35hrs the aeroplane crashed just off-shore at Redcar and sadly the pilot lost his life as a result. Through correspondance with a historian researching the flying school at Marske, Mr Les Parsons, his research has discovered a letter from another flying instructor dated 4th September 1918. This other instructor was also flying while being filmed and on this occasion had completed over thirty loop-the-loops. It is not known what became of the film.
Pilot - Major Leslie Peech Aizlewood MC AFC RAF, aged 23. Buried Old Marske Churchyard, Yorkshire.
Leslie Aizlewood was born on 25th April 1895 in Rotherham, Yorkshire. His military service begun with the 5th Battalion, The York and Lancaster Regiment, a Territoral Unit. He was promoted to Lieutenant on 2nd September 1914 and then made Temporary Captain on 26th July 1915. He must have been training to fly early in 1916 as he was awarded a Royal Aero Club Aviators' Certificate (Cert.No.2742) on 18th March 1916 at the Norwich military flying school. He was seconded to the Royal Flying Corps on 17th May 1916. He then served with a number of Squadrons over the coming months; 9 Reserve Squadron, 35 Reserve Squadron, 35 Squadronn, 40 Squadron and 32 Squadron and during his time in France had shot down four enemy aircraft. He was awarded the Military Cross on 20th October 1916, The Citation reads.."For conspicuous gallantry and skill. Seeing five hostile machines, he manoeuvred to get between them and their lines; then, diving on one of them, he reserved his fire till he was only twenty yards off. The hostile machine fell out of control, but he was so close to it that he collided with it, breaking his propeller and damaging his machine. Though it was barely controllable, he managed to get back to our lines."
On 10th February 1917 he was wounded with 32 Squadron but recovered. On 19th March 1917 he was posted to serve as a flying instructor and eleven days later he was posted to HQ North Group, also to act as a flying instructor. On 27th May 1917 he was posted to 24 Wing HQ also as a flying instructor. In October 1917 he was graded as Squadron Commander and made a Flight Commander and became chief instructor with No.1 School of Fighting on 21st October 1917. On 1st January 1918 he was made a Temporary Major and posted to No.1 School of Aerial Fighting. He transferred to the RAF when it formed on 1st April 1918. On 27th April 1918 he was posted to No.4 (Auxillary) School of Aerial Gunnery which became No.2 School of Aerial Fighting and Gunnery on 29th May 1918 then No.2 Fighting School on 29th May 1918.
Notification of his Air Force Cross was printed in the London Gazette after his death in the New Year list on 1st January 1919 and there appears to have been no citation for his AFC. Following his death the Commanding Officer made the following statement to the press... "He was one of the most brilliant pilots in the Royal Air Force. A keen officer, always ready for any duty that he was called upon the perform and his death is a very great loss not only to this school but to the whole nation. As fighting instructor he displayed great organising abilities, and the success of this school is largely due to his loyal support and untiring efforts. Had he been spared, he would have made a great name for himself. We are left to mourn a most gallant soldier and a very staunch comrade." He was buried on the edge of the Old Churchyard plot at Marske overlooking the sea.
His first cousin was also a high-ranking officer, Major General John Adlam Aizlewood MC was an officer in the British Army, he served on the Western Front in WW1 and commanded an Indian Army in WW2. I thank Vivian Aizlewood for the information that was kindly provided to make this account as detailed as it is and for the photograph of Major Aizlewood. I also thank Les Parsons for his input. The author of the Biggles' books William Earl Johns served at Marske and based his character "Major Champion" on Major Aizlewood.