Jet Provost XP621 near Bellerby.

On 15th November 1965 the crew of this No.3 Flying Training School aircraft took off from Leeming airfield at 10.45hrs to undertake a routine aerobatic training flight. On board was an instructor with a pupil pilot. Thirty minutes into the flight upon flying over the Leyburn area a fire warning light came on in the aircraft cockpit and after operating fire extinguishers, fearing engine failure the two airmen ejected. A press report on the incident stated that the instructor had managed to fly the aircraft clear of Bellerby village before they both ejected. The aircraft crashed about a mile north of the village and broke up with part of the aircraft coming to rest within a military training area. The two airmen landed nearby and were picked up and taken to hospital. The pupil received hospital treatment at Catterick was released to be awarded his Wings later in the week at the graduation parade.

Instructor Pilot - F/Lt John Dearden RAF (4080906).

Pupil Pilot - P/O Geoffrey Charles Wheeler BSc(Eng) RAF (4232422). Minor injuries.

The instructor, John Dearden, had received a commission from Cadet Pilot to Acting P/O on probation on 12th March 1951 (with his period of service to count from 10th October 1951). he was confirmed in the rank of P/O on 28th November 1952 and rose to F/O on 10th January 1954, F/Lt on 13th November 1957. He retired from the RAF on 2nd June 1976 as F/Lt but retained the rank of Squadron Leader.
Geoffrey Wheeler received a commission on 4th December 1964 to the rank of Acting P/O. He was confirmed in the rank of P/O on 4th December 1965, rising to F/O on 1st January 1966 (with seniorty back dated to 4th March 1964). He rose through the ranks very quickly, lastly to F/Lt on 4th September 1966. He retired from the RAF on 11th July 1972.

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