Mustang AL988 close to Leeman Road, York.

On 20th December 1942 169 Squadron was in the process of moving from Clifton to Duxford and on this date a number of Mustangs were to be ferried away from Clifton down to Duxford. Cloud was affecting part of the route south so what became the pilot of Mustang AL988 and one other delayed leaving. This would enable the lesser experienced pilot of AL988 to fly in formation with his flight commander, F/Lt Plumtree DFC, as his navigation was not to the standard of the other pilots. Both pilots waited for the rest of the squadron to set off and were then due to take off in formation, with the less experienced pilot told to keep the leader in sight. They were then due to fly in formation toward Duxford until they were clear of the area of reduced visibility. At 14.00hrs both aircraft took off from Clifton. Having made a few circuits of the airfield the flight commander still had not seen the other aircraft so descended over the airfield to look to see if he had actually taken off. While flying at between 300 and 400 feet over the airfield he saw another aircraft fly below his height and strike a blister hanger on the southern boundary with its starboard wing tip. This aircraft was Mustang AL988. It then failed to gain height, crossed the River Ouse and crashed near to railway sidings and the vicarage of St.Barnabas's Church on Jubilee Terrace, off Leeman Road, York. The aircraft caught fire. While the pilot was dragged from the burning aircraft by an engine Driver Imeson he was seriously injured and sadly died soon afterwards at York Hospital. A fish stage that ajoined the railway and three coaches were also set on fire. The crash investigation assumed that because the pilot had been told to fly with his leader in sight he had followed the lead aircraft dangerously low over the airfield and while he had taken the opportunity to carry out low flying he misjudged his height.

Pilot - Sgt James Wild Butterfield RAFVR (1382698), aged 19. Buried Hampstead Cemetery, London (W.F.72/71).