On 16th February 1917 this RNAS Flying School aeroplane was badly damaged following a force-landing at or near Redcar aerodrome due to engine failure.
Pilot - Probationary F/O Thomas Herbert Boyd RNAS.
Thomas Boyd was born on 29th November 1890. He was working as an assistant surveyor for the GPO when he enlisted for RNAS service, being then granted a commission on 22nd October 1916. He then trained at RNAS Redcar Flying School from 27th November 1916 to 17th February 1917. While at Redcar he crashed Avro 504 8595 on 30th January 1917 and Avro 504 9867 on 16th February 1917, the first incident saw him receive minor facial injuries. He later served on board the aircraft carrier HMS Campania. On 9th February 1918 he was piloting Curtiss H-4 Experimental Flying Boat 1230 when the engine failed 45 miles south of Fair Isle and he was forced to land in a very rough sea being picked up later by a destroyer. He was Mentioned in Despatches on 3rd June 1918 for what appears to have been his actions in sinking a German submarine in March 1918. He returned to working for the GPO after the First World War, rising to become one of its chief members of staff, Assistant Post Master General. He was awarded the C.B., Gazetted on 1st January 1938 and died in May 1941.
Avro 504 was built by George Parnall & Co. Ltd at Bristol and was delivered directly to RNAS Redcar on 4th December 1916. It was tested and accepted there on 6th December 1916 and joined the RNAS Flying School. Following a ground accident on 18th December 1916 it was repaired and returned to service before suffering another accident on 16th February 1917, this time it was seriously damaged and was
not repaired. It was deleted from stock on 27th February 1917.
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