On 23rd January 1918 an unidentified military aeroplane made a crash landing at "Ruston's Farm, Newton Dale" receiving damage. The only reference to this incident located to date is a small piece of the aeroplane with these basic details attached and on show in a display case in the Beck Isle Museum, Pickering. I would welcome further details.
Pilot - Name unknown.
There is a Casualty Card for an incident on 23rd January 1918 but it gives no location though could well be this incident in Newtondale. It relates 77 Squadron BE12b C3102 flew into thick fog and its pilot was unable to see the ground while attempting a forced landing so crashed. Unfortunately the pilot 2Lt Philip Ivor Lewis sustained injuries. No.77 Squadron were not based in Yorkshire but it isn't beyond possibility this B.E.12 was being ferried to join the squadron at the time. The squadron was based at Edinburgh.