R.E.8 E95 in the Catterick area.
During the morning of 28th May 1918 this No.52 Training Squadron aeroplane was being flown in the area of Catterick aerodrome when it stalled during a turn. A spin developed and the pilot failed to bring the aeroplane back under control in the height available resulting in a crash at 08.45hrs. The pilot sustained serious injuries and died four hours later.
Pilot - 2Lt John Hector Kugi RAF (99940), aged 18. Buried Sheffield (City Road) Cemetery, Yorkshire (HH.2RC.4497).
John Kugi was born on 2nd July 1899 and had previously studied engineering at Sheffield University prior to enlisting into the RFC. He then transferred to the RAF when it formed in April 1918. His father John Kugi (Snr) was the manager of the Gramd Hotel, Sheffield at the time of his son's death. The CWGC database lists his rank as being Sgt while newspapers that mention his death list him in the rank of Second Lt, he also has a service file within the National Archives AIR76 series which contains officer's service records, lending weight to him being an officer.