On 1st August 1942 the events surrounding this incident are not fully known. From the RAF accident record card it appears that the pilot was flying the aircraft from one airfield to another, possibly from the CGS base at Sutton Bridge over to an airfield in south-west Scotland or in northern Cumbria. Before setting out the pilot obtained weather reports and his Commanding Officer allowed the flight. The aircraft landed and refuelled at Usworth but took off without the pilot having obtained a second weather report. As he flew west the visibility got worse and in thick cloud he flew off course. Lost he opted to force land the aircraft. The pilot made two dummy runs on making a forced landing over the cornfield near Pooley Bridge but on landing the starboard wheel struck a rut in the field and the aircraft overturned. As we know the name and basic details of the pilot's service around the time of this incident have been researched more can be assumed to be correct. The aircraft appears to have been on the books of the Central Gunnery School (C.G.S.) who were based at Sutton Bridge but the pilot was not one of their pilots. He was was posted to 165 Squadron when it formed in April 1942 and was flying regularly with them in June, July, August and September 1942. As 165 Squadron re-formed at Ayr, Scotland in April 1942 and he was with the squadron when they were based there it would appear that he would have been flying Master W8991 back to Ayr when he force landed at Pooley Bridge.

Pilot - P/O Lambert Reginald Disney RAFVR (112006)

Lambert Disney was born in Evesham, Worcestershire in June 1916. He received his commission to the rank of P/O on probation on 19th November 1941. As stated he was posted to 165 Squadron on its formation at Ayr in April 1942 and remained with this unit for some months. In mid-August 1942 165 Squadron moved to Eastchurch and he flew a Spitfire with then on the Dieppe raid on 19th August 1942. He was promoted to F/O on probation on 1st October 1942 and to F/Lt (war subs) on 19th November 1943 and was still serving with 165 Squadron in January 1944. The photograph shown above was taken not long after 165 Squadron formed and should probably show Lambert Disney. He died in Deben, Suffolk in 1994.