At 13.30hrs on 21st July 1942 this aircraft was being ferried to Brough airfield but bounced on touching down, the pilot opened up the throttles and attempted to gain height to overshoot (and fly a circuit of the airfield to try landing again) but was heading towards the Blackburn Aircraft company hangers as it climbed away. Before the aircraft had gained enough height the rear fuselage clipped the roof of a hanger. After the impact with the factory hangar roof the port elevator, an undercarriage leg and the tail wheel fell off, the aircraft climbed sharply and the port engine caught fire. A stall developed and it then dived into mudflats on the bank of the Humber around 75 yards from the shore. The pilot was sadly killed in the incident. While the crash team at Brough deployed a dinghy and were able to be at the crash site within minutes but because the tide was in the front of the aircraft was well below the water level. When the tide went out the team returned to the site and recovered the pilot's body.
Botha L6355 was built to contract 583994/36 by The Blackburn Aircraft Co. Ltd. at Dumbarton and was awaiting collection in October 1939. It was placed in long term MU storage at 22 MU on 29th Febryary 1940 then was taken on chage by No.1 (C)O.T.U. at Silloth on 5th May 1940. On 20th April 1941 it went to 33 MU and was later transferred to No.4 A.O.N.S. at Watchfield on 26th August 1941. No.4 A.O.N.S. disbanded on 30th August 1941. The aircraft was probably placed in MU storage but where is not recorded on the AM Form 78. As a result of the crash off Brough on 21st July 1942 Cat.E2/FA damage was recorded and the aircraft was struck off charge.
Pilot - P/O James Francis Haley RCAF (J/15272), aged 26, of Saint John, New Brunswick, Canada. Buried Stoneykirk Cemetery, Wigtown, Scotland.
James Haley was born on 24th March 1916 in St.John, New Brunswick, Canada and was the son of John Thomas and Violet Beatrice (nee Donnelly) Haley. After leaving school in 1934 he began working as a clerk, latterally for the National Harbours Board. He enlisted for RCAF service on 24th October 1940 in Moncton, New Brunswick. He trained as a pilot in Canada and was awarded his Pilot's Wings on 14th July 1941. He was soon posted to the UK and arrived in the UK August 1941, receiving a posting to No.4 A.O.S. on 8th September 1941. On 14th February 1942 he was the pilot of Anson N5113 which swung off the runway on landing at West Freugh and after skidding on wet grass the undercarriage collapsed. He received a commission on 20th March 1942. He was almost certainly a staff pilot at 4 A.O.S. at West Freugh rather at the training unit to receive training. The photograph of his grave was found on the "scottishwargraves" forum and posted by "Spoons".