Blenheim V5527 near Brandesburton.
On 11th April 1942 this No.2 (Coastal) Operational Training Unit aircraft flew into the ground at high speed soon after taking off from Catfoss airfield during a night-time circuits and landings exercise. It was suspected
that the pilot's inexperience had made him become disorientated while flying on instruments and the aircraft had been allowed to descend while in a turn. The aircraft crashed at 02.15hrs on land near Sandsfield Farm, now part of Hainsworth Park Golf Club. The pilot sustained injuries whilst his wireless operator sadly died.
Pilot - Sgt William Barclay Cooper RAFVR (1063759). Injured.
Wireless Operator / Observer - Sgt Harry Shaw RAFVR (987857), aged 20, of Mexborough. Buried Mexborough Cemetery, Yorkshire.
A small memorial has been erected close to the crash site in more modern years. I credit Eric Barton with the photographs and his son for passing his photograph collection to me to eventually re-home somewhere. Eric, Ken Reast and Albert Pritchard joined East Yorkshire aviation expert Rodney Robinson in searching for where the aircraft crashed during the Summer of 2008 with permission from the landowner and located small fragments on the surface to confirm the location.
Blenheim V5527 was built to contract 1485/39 by Rootes Securities Ltd at Blythe Bridge and was awaiting collection in November 1940. The aircraft was initially placed into store before being taken on charge by 608 Squadron at Thornaby around March 1941 when the unit began converting to the Blenheim type. The aircraft's AM Form 78 is required to get a complete and accurate picture of it's history. During 1941 it appears to have been on charge with No.3 S.G.R. at Squires Gate before serving with 500 Squadron at Bircham Newton though the dates are not yet known. 500 Squadron ceased operating Blenheim MkVI's in November 1941 and this was probably when it was transferred to No.2 O.T.U. at Catfoss. As a result of the crash on 11th April 1942 Cat.E2/FA Burnt damage was the damage assessment and the aircraft was struck off charge.
The pilot William Cooper received a commission to the rank of acting P/O on probation (emergency) on 23rd November 1944 in the Admin and Special
Duties Branch of the RAF and was made P/O on probation on 18th January 1945. He rose to F/O on 18th July 1945 and appears to have left the
RAF in the postwar shake up.