On 22nd August 1942 this aircraft crashed near Brandesburton but the exact sequence of events is not known as there are conflictions in the accounts obtained. One states that the aircraft bounced on landing at Catfoss and it's landing gear was damaged, the pilot attempted to go around for another landing but lost control soon after, he had applied more power to the engines but this choked the engines and they failed. The aircraft crashed near Brandesburton and was badly damaged. A second account given by the Station Medical Officer to the Yorkshire Air Museum's Guy Jefferson in the 1980's suggested that the aircraft had crashed soon after taking off due to an engine failure, the aircraft crashed heavily just north of Brandesburton and caught fire. His account differs in that the pilot was trapped in the burning aircraft and died, his observer was pulled clear but died of his injuries. The RAF's crash card for the incident, the AM1180, states that the pilot certainly did not die but does not mention anyone else being injured. What is confirmed is that AC2 Voltos died on the same day and in the Holderness registration district which fits for Catfoss airfield, whether he was linked to the crash of Beaufighter T5145 has not been proven by this researcher at the time of last updating this webpage in July 2017. His is the only death in the district that would fit for a flying accident.
Pilot - Sgt Lewis Joseph Passow RAFVR (1212784). Injured.
Passenger(/Observer)? - AC2 Constantine Philip Voltos RAFVR (919294), aged 21, of Kensington, London. Buried Brookwood Cemetery, Surrey.
Beaufighter T5145 was built to contract B.41906/39 by Fairey Aviation Ltd. at Stockport and was awaiting collection in June 1942. On paper it was allocated to 235 Squadron immediately after being built and then also immediately being switched to 236 Squadron charge but neither squadrons may have ever received the aircraft rather they were just allocations. It certainly was on charge with 2 (C)OTU at Catfoss shortly after. As a result of the crash near Brandesburton on 22nd August 1942 the aircraft was writen off with Cat.E2/FA damage recorded.
Lewis Passow received his commission on 23rd June 1943 (158105) to the rank of P/O on probation (emergency), he was promoted to F/O on 23rd January 1944. He later flew with 252 Squadron. He was probably born in Paddington, London in 1922.
Constantine Voltos' gravestone in Brookwood Cemetery. I thank Mr Neil Smith for kindly photographing his gravestone on my behalf and supplying it to this account.