Oxford AB662 near Holmfirth.
In the early hours of 14th April 1942 this 14 (Pilot) Advanced Flying Unit was being flown on a training exercise when, at 05.00hrs, it hit buildings at New Mill near Holmfirth. The aircraft was reported to have been some miles off the intended track at the time of the accident with the pilot being lost. Sadly the pilot was killed in the crash but it is not yet known whether there were any civilian casualties at the time of creating this webpage.
Oxford AB662 was built to contract B.67831/40 by Percival Aircraft Ltd. and awaiting collection in May 1941. After a short period of storage it was taken on charge by 12 SFTS at Grantham on 12th June 1941. It would appear to have been slightly damaged on 30th July 1941 which caused injuries to P/O L Bennett and to LAC A R Fairless as there is an AIR81 casualty file relating to this incident in the National Archives (though I have yet to view it). This damage must have been slight as it was not listed in the published history of the aircraft. On 26th August 1941 it was transferred to 14 SFTS at Lyneham and on 19th January 1942 it moved with the unit to Ossington. On 26th January 1942 14 SFTS was re-designated as 14 (P)AFU. As a result of the crash near Holmfirth on 14th April 1942 Cat.E2/FA damage was the assessment and it was written off.
Pilot - Sgt Melvin Harry Smith RCAF (R/98066), aged 21. Buried Ollerton Cemetery, Nottinghamshire.
Melvin Smith was born on 15th February 1921 at Arcola, Indiana, USA and was the son of Suddo Sullivan and Emma (nee Brecht) Smith. He enlisted for RCAF service on 25th March 1941 at Windsor, Ontario, Canada and after training he was awarded his pilot's flying badge on 19th December 1941. Arriving in the UK in January 1942 he was posted to 14 (P)AFU on 10th March 1942.