Magister L8344 near Yeadon airfield.
On 7th November 1939 the pilot was attempting to make a forced-landing in poor visibility near Yeadon airfield when the aircraft
stalled while the pilot was avoiding trees. The aircraft was badly damaged and deemed beyond repair and written off. The fate of the pilot is not yet known.
Pilot - Name unknown, injured?
The history of Magister L8344 appears not to have been properly recorded. It was built to contract 706823/37 by Phillips and Powys at Woodley
and was delivered to 24 Squadron at Hendon on 27th September 1938. The history there-after is not properly documented. It probably transferred for
51 Group use in 1939 which formed at Hendon on 11th May 1939 to take
over 50 Group's E&RFTS responsibilties. 51 Group moved their Headquarters to Yeadon on 8th August 1939 and it would seem reasonable that it moved with the unit.
The accident to L8344 took place on 7th November 1939, the recorded unit it was flying with is 51 Group Communication Flight. 51 Grp Com flt officially
did not exist on this date as it was formed in December 1940. Although no proof it was probably allotted for the use of 51 Group and was based at Yeadon
as part of the Yeadon Station Flight. After the accident detailed above, Cat W/FA damage was recorded and struck off charge on 15th December 1939.