BE2a 332 near Danby Wiske.

During mid-May 1914 No.2 Squadron of the Royal Flying Corp undertook a move from Montrose to Netheravon to begin exercises on Salisbury Plain. When they left Montrose on Monday, 11th May 1914 the following BE2 aeroplanes had the named pilots flying them. 229 - Cpt Dawes. 233 - Todd. 235 - Martyn. 232 - Corballis. 331 - Empson. 225 - Waldron. 332 - Rodwell. 327 - Lt Dawes. 222 - Harvey-Kelly. 228 - Major Burke. The ten aeroplanes used fields in the Edinburgh, Berwick, Blythe and Seaton Carew areas on their flight south to regroup and spend the night. By 14th May 1914 all ten reached Seaton Carew. The aeroplanes had to take their time flying south because the squadron's road party was much slower at driving south and the aeroplanes needed the support of this to continue. At Seaton Carew where an area of beach was used as a temporary aerodrome. The next leg was to have been from Seaton Carew to the Knavesmire at York on Friday, 15th May 1914. The commanding officer Major Burke damaged his aeroplane at Seaton Carew whilst preparing to take off when it ran into sand dunes. The remaining nine pilots with their aeroplanes left Major Burke behind with a team to repair his aeroplane and set off for York at intervals between 05.20hrs and 06.30hrs. Unfortunately as they flew south-west and crossed south of the River Tees to fly toward Northallerton and then York a belt of fog presented the pilots with difficult flying conditions. The planned route the aeroplanes were to take from Seaton Carew to York is not recorded but it seems likely that railway lines would be followed for ease of navigation in good weather. Having lost their barings several of the BE2's made force landings in the Northallerton area, some others found their way to the Bedale area where forced landings were made. By far the most serious incident involved BE2 331 which crashed near Hutton Bonville and killed the two airmen flying in it.

Several of the other BE2's were damaged in forced landings on this same morning. The pilot of BE2 332 attempted to force land at Lazenby Hall, near Danby Wiske railway station, but in trying to avoid a collision with a tree the BE2 landed hard, the undercarriage collapsed and the nose of the aeroplane was damaged. The photograph above shows this aeroplane, BE2 332, in the field at Danby Wiske in the process of being dismantled. It was put on a train and sent back to Montrose for repair.

Pilot - Lt Reginald Mandeville Rodwell RFC.

Mechanic - Mech 1st Class William Lee RFC.