Maurice Farman S.11 Shorthorn B4785, location unknown, between Doncaster and Beverley.
The events leading up to this eventual incident are not known but can probably be guessed with some degree of accuracy. The casualty card for the eventual incident states that the aeroplane was being ferried from Doncaster by a No.72 Training Squadron pilot and as this unit was based at Beverley this is probably where the destination was due to have been. In the days or probably the day before 15th May 1918 the ferry flight took place but a forced landing in a field must have been made though the reason and location for this is not known. The landing must have been made prior to 15th May 1918 because at 05.45hrs on this date the pilot attempted to take off from a small field but hit the top of a tree with the undercarriage on take off. A crash then resulted and the pilot sustained injuries. To take off, force land and then attempt to take off all before 05.45hrs on the same day would seem unlikely.
Pilot - 2Lt Frederick James Wilcock RAF. Injured.
Frederick Wilcock was born on 24th August 1899 and joined the Royal Flying Corps in Summer 1917, being granted a commission on 20th December 1917. He was posted to No.72 Training Squadron on 8th March 1918 and transferred from the RFC to the RAF when it formed in April 1918. The injuries he sustained in May 1918 cannot have been that serious as he returned to the unit before being posted to the R.N. College at Greenwich on 7th June 1918. He returned to Beverley in July 1918 and later trained with No.2 Fighting School before a posting to No.70 Squadron in October 1918. He spent time in hospital in April 1919 before being placed on the Unemployed List on 4th June 1919.