Hampden L4161 near Branton, Doncaster.
During the afternoon of 5th September 1939 this 7 Squadron aircraft was used to fly training flights. 7 Squadron were based at Finningley airfield but were using Doncaster airfield for part of their training routines. The flight prior to the accident was carried out by Sgt C Sumpster RAF (264422) who landed at Doncaster airfield at 15.05hrs, he later reported the aircraft handled normally and had switched the engines off after landing. At 15.10hrs P/O Playfair climbed into the aircraft, was seen to strap himself in, start the engines and then take off from Doncaster airfield. He was to undertake a basic training flight involving making a series of circuits and landings and this appears to have been using Doncaster airfield. At 15.30hrs the aircraft was seen flying straight and level at between 3,000 to 4,000 feet above the ground a few miles from Doncaster airfield. It was seen to make a gentle turn to the left but almost immediately the nose and starboard wing rose, the wing banked and the aircraft fell away left, making a steep sprial dive until it struck the ground. The aircraft crashed near Cockwood Farm, a mile north-east of Branton, and disintergrated on impact killing the pilot.
An investigation followed and it was thought that the pilot may have been practicing flying on one engine at the time control was lost. While this was allowed at the time it was stopped after this incident for a more thorough investigation of the flying charactoristics of single engine flying of Hampdens. The investigation could also not rule out some form of structural failure that had resulted in the pilot loosing control. This incident was the first wartime flying fatality in Yorkshire since the outbreak of war.
Pilot - P/O Anthony Richard Playfair RAF (39679), aged 25, of Qualicum Beach, Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada. Buried Finningley Churchyard, Yorkshire.
Anthony Playfair was born in India and was the son of Col. and Mrs Playfair. His family arrived in Vancouver Island when he child, he attended school at Shawnigan Lake. He left his home town in British Columbia three years before his death to take up a Commission in the RAF in England in May 1937 as Acting P/O on probation. He trained and gained his flynig Wings at 10 F.T.S. at Ternhill. He left a brother Geoffrey and he was the first British Columbian casualty of the War. He was buried in Finningley Churchyard on 8th September 1939.
Hampden L4161 was built to contract 549267/36 by Handley Page Ltd at Radlett. It was allotted to 7 Squadron on 20th April 1939 and was taken on charge by them at Finningley on 29th April 1939. 7 Squadron moved to Doncaster on 3rd September 1939. Two days later it sustained the damage near Branton with Cat.W/FA Burnt damage being recorded after assessment.