Fairey IIIf J9061 in the 24 Squadron markings (photograph via Jim Rudland).
On 8th May 1931 this 24 Squadron aircraft was being flown from Leuchars in Scotland down to Northolt, Middlesex. The pilot was following a route often taken for such flights that was simply to fly along the coast for ease of navigation. Poor weather was encountered when the aircraft reached the Teesside area and after flying in dense mist, drizzle and semi-darkness the pilot elected to go in land to find better conditions or to land. Flying at around 400 feet the aircraft had flown inland at Redcar and headed roughly south-west probably to attempt a landing at Catterick aerodrome. Near Carlton in Cleveland the aircraft clipped trees and crashed soon after in the region of Dromonby Bank. The aircraft sustained extensive damage to the front of the machine, the pilot sustained injuries when he was thrown forwards onto the instrument panel. His collegue who was uninjured and was able to assist his pilot to exit the aircraft and walk down to Manor House Farm for help. The pilot was later taken to Busby Hall and later to RAF Catterick's hospital for treatment. He was almost certainly not a member of No.24 Squadron but was flying himself to Northolt in this aircraft. The assumption is that this mechanic may then have flown it back alone.
Fairey IIIf 9061 was built to contract 794752/27 by Fairey and was completed with dual controls. It first flew on the 26th March 1928. It was issued to 24 (Communications) Squadron at Northolt in May 1928. The aircraft was damaged enough for it to be written off following the incident detailed above, Cat.W/FA damage being recorded.
Pilot - W/Co Thomas Edward Barham Howe AFC RAF. Seriously injured.
Mechanic - LAC Gordon John Jamieson RAF. Uninjured.
The crash site.
Thomas Edward Barham Howe was born in Ireland on 4th September 1886 and began his service in the Australian Imperial Forces in October 1914. He served in Gallipoli and was wounded at Anzac Cove in 1915. After recovering from injuries he transferred to the RNAS entering as a Flight Sub-Lieutenant in April 1916, he trained as a pilot gaining his Royal Aero Club Aviators' Certificate (Cert.No.3322) on 3rd August 1916 at RNAS Chingford. He was Mentioned in Despatches on 1st May 1918 and later awarded the Air Force Cross for his flying in France, Gazetted on 2nd November 1918 though no citation has been found. Having been granted a permanent commission in the RAF in 1919 between September 1919 to January 1923 he served at the School of Air Pilotage and for valuable flying services at the school he was awarded the Bar to the AFC in the New Years Honours list 1923 (Gazetted 15th January 1923). Later that year he was elected to be a member of the Royal Aero Club on 14th November 1923. Having been posted to 32 Squadron in May 1923 he rose to become the Commanding Officer by the time he was posted to the RAF Staff College in May 1924. In May 1928 he became Commanding Officer of RAF Northolt, in February 1929 he became C.O. of 203 Squadron in Iraq. He returned to the UK in 1930 and was later appointed to the Directorate of Training at the Air Ministry in January 1931 until January 1933.
Having recovered from injuries sustained in the accident detailed above in 1933 he was posted to Headquarters Fighting Area, as Officer-in-Charge of Administration and later the served in the position of Senior Equipment Staff Officer. He acted as Air Aide-de-Camp
to King George V from January 1934 to August 1935 but was then appointed to the Air Attache in Washington from September 1935 until the end of 1937 when he returned to the UK and took up the role of Senior Air Staff Officer at Headquarters, No.12 (Fighter) Group. In the New Years Honours list 1936 he was awarded the CBE. He was promoted to S/Ldr in 1924, W/Co in 1928, G/Cpt in 1933 and Air/Cmdr on 1st July 1937.
He was again Mentioned in Despatches on 17th March 1941 but retired from the RAF on 19th August 1941 though he then took a role in Aircrew Reception duties dispite technically being retired. Between 1942 and 1948 he was employed in a role of Dominions and Welfare Personnel Officer. He died on 2nd January 1970.
