Oxford AT619 at Holme on Spalding Moor airfield.

During the morning of 20th November 1943 this 1520 Beam Approach Training Flight aircraft was being used to train a pilot on flying using the beam procedure. Thick fog was present during this morning and at 11.00hrs Oxford AT619 was making an approach to land using the beam equipment. Unfortunately the beam receiver failed to operate correctly resulting in the pilot landing incorrectly. On touching down the aircraft bounced and left the runway, the wheels then dug into soft ground and the aircraft overturned. 1520 Flight had been formed exactly two years earlier to the day.

Instructor Pilot - S/Ldr Herbert Charles Langford RAFVR (86412). Injured.

Trainee Pilot - Sgt James Routledge Coulter RAAF (427442). Injured.

Herbert Langford received a commission to the rank of P/O on 12th October 1940 and rose to F/O six months later. He was then promoted to F/Lt (war subs) on 12th October 1942 and technically he would have been in the rank of Acting S/Ldr at the time of this flying accident in November 1943. He was still in the rank of Acting S/Ldr when he was awarded the Air Force Cross on 7th September 1945.

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