B.E.2c 1144 near Thirsk.
On 4th November 1915 this aeroplane was being flown on the delivery flight from the manufacturer The Blackburn Aeroplane & Motor Company, Leeds to RNAS Whitley Bay when it suffered engine failure in a rainstorm in the Thirsk area. A force-landing was made near Thirsk but it overturned amd was damaged. It was boxed up and returned to Blackburn's by rail for repair, where it arrived on 10th November 1915. A probable location for this landing could well have been Thirsk racecourse.
Pilot - FSL Alan Murray Waistell RNAS, of Northallerton, Yorkshire.
Alan Murray Waistell was born on 4th January 1889 in Northallerton, he was the youngest son of Charles Waistell. There was a solicitor in Northallerton of the same name towards the
end of the nineteenth centuary and both men were probably one and the same. Alan Waistell initially served in the 4th Royal Warwickshire Regiment but transferred to the RNAS. He gained his Royal Aero Club Aviator's Certificate (Cert.No.1164) on 24th March 1915 in a Maurice Farman aircraft at the Military School, Farnborough while holding the rank of Second Lieut at the time. His rank of Temporary F/Sub Lt was made permanent on 18th October 1915, he later rose to Flt/Cmdr. He was awarded the DSC for his actions when he was a F/Lt on the night of 17th October 1917 he carried out a bombing raid on Chanak. The citation printed in the London Gazette dated 28th February 1918 tells the story, it reads.. "For determination and pluck shown by him in carrying out a bombing raid on Chanak on the night of the 17th October 1917. In spite of the fact that there was no moon and that the weather conditions were so adverse that the other pilots were unable to reach the objective, he succeeded in reaching Chanak and in dropping his bombs. On the return journey he hit the side of a mountain, being unable to see it on account of the darkness, his machine catching fire on crashing. Although severely injured about the face and knee he was able to climb out of the machine and eventually reach the aerodrome, having ridden 10 miles over extremely rough country with a badly lacerated knee.” These injuries probably cut short his flying career. He was made a temporary Staff Officer 3rd Class on 21st January 1919 but relinquished his commission on 10th July 1920, which he made as a result of ill health. He was permitted to retain his rank of F/Lt. He retired from the RAF on account of ill health caused by wounds. His engagement to Honora Christian was reported in Flight Magazine of 16th November 1922 with a note that they were to be married in India in March 1923. His medals were put up for sale in 2010 for an asking price of £6,500.
B.E.2c 1144 was built to contract C.P.58282/14/X19112 by The Blackburn Aeroplane & Motor Company, Leeds but crashed near Thirsk on the delivery flight to Whitley Bay on 4th November 1915. From here it was probably put onto a train and taken back to Blackburn's where it was re-erected and it was delivered to RNAS Scarborough Home Defence Flight on 28th January 1916 where upon it suffered damaged on landing at Scarborough. It was again repaired but possibly on site. It later transferred to RNAS Atwick Home Defence Flight on 1st February 1916 and then went back to RNAS Scarborough Home Defence Flight on 10th February 1916. It carried out an anti-Zeppelin patrol on 11th February 1916. On 29th March 1916 it was transferred to RNAS Redcar for a day, probably with the Home Defence Flight. It then returned to RNAS Scarborough Home Defence Flight and carried out another anti-Zeppelin patarol on 5th April 1916. A few days later it was transferred back to RNAS Atwick Home Defence Flight where it was damaged in a gale on 16th April 1916. It was again repaired on site and later returned to RNAS Scarborough Home Defence Flight. It was used on another anti-Zeppelin patrol on the night of 27th / 28th November 1916 and again crashed on landing at Scarborough. The aircraft was again repaired and transferred to RNAS Redcar on 5th February 1917. It was finally deleted from stock on 4th May 1917.