Beaufighter T4789 near Catwick.
On 25th June 1942 the crew flying this No.2 (Coastal) Operational Training Unit aircraft had undertaken an air search and rescue flight during the evening but it was not yet dark. As they were coming in to land at Catfoss and while making their final turn to line up with the runway in use, with the wheels lowered and the flaps selected to the down position, the port engine failed. Because of the position of the aircraft in the air and with a failed engine (on the ground side of the fuselage) and flaps lowered the pilot lost control. Being at only 300 feet above the ground there was no space in which to recover the aircraft and it sideslipped into the ground either in or close to Catwick Quarry. The aircraft exploded on impact at 21.30hrs and sadly both airmen were killed. It is possible that the search was for Wellington T2921 that had failed to return following Bomber Command operations on the night of 23rd / 24th June 1943.
Beaufighter T4789 was built to contract B.41906/39 by The Fairey Aviation Co. Ltd. at Heaton Chapel, Stockport and was awaiting collection in July 1941. This was one of a number of aircraft supplied new to No.2 (Coastal) Operational Training Unit at the end of 1941 but the date it was taken on charge by them is not known. As a result of the crash at Atwick on 25th June 1942 Cat.E2/FA damage was the damage assessment and it was written off.
Pilot - F/Sgt John Edwin Lawrence Downton RCAF (R/85450), aged 26, of Wilcox, Saskatchewan, Canada. Buried Brandesburton Churchyard, Yorkshire.
Wireless Operator / Observer - Sgt Ernest Bent RAFVR (1053350), aged 31, of Swinton, Manchester. Buried Manchester Southern Cemetery, Lancashire.
John Downton and his grave in Brandesburton churchyard. He was born on 6th January 1916 in Wilcox, Saskatchewan, Canada and was the son of William Thomas and Elsie Mary (nee Lawrence) Downton. His parents had moved to Canada from Somerset, England before his birth. He had been working in farming since leaving school in 1933 and enlisted for RCAF service on 13th February 1941 in Regina, Saskatchewan. He was awarded his pilot's wings on 7th October 1941 after training in Canada. On arrival in the UK in February 1942 he trained at 3 (P)AFU beginning 16th March 1942 and was posted to 2 (C)OTU on 28th April 1942. The Downton Lake in Saskatchewan is named in his honour. The photograph of him shown above was found on "www.svwm.ca".
Nothing is known on Sgt Bent other than the basic details shown above.