BE2a 229 near Bedale.

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.

How three of the aeroplanes reached the Bedale area is not known, presuambly they were flying together as three made landings in this area. They may have followed railway lines though that is speculation on my part. BE2 229 was landed in a field near Bedale and appears to have been landed without damage, it remained there only briefly. Later in the day the pilot took off to attempt to fly to York but appears to have missed York completely. The aeroplane was landed in the Chapeltown area of Leeds apparently with the pilot lost, after receiving directions he headed off and finally found York Knavesmire around midday. Only Major Burke, Captain Dawes and Captain Todd reached York on the same day they set out from Seaton Carew, three others reached York the following day (Lt Martyn, Lt Corballis and Lt Dawes).

Pilot - Captain George William Patrick Dawes RFC.