Unidentified Airco DH.6 at Catterick Bridge.
On an unknown date during June 1918 this No.127 Squadron aeroplane was being flown in the aerodrome at Catterick and was flying very low, possibly because the crew had attempted to fly either very close to the top of Catterick Bridge or even fly underneath one of the arches. It struck telegraph wires running by the side of the bridge which changed the direction of the aeroplane, it struck the bridge parapet and fell into inverted into the River Swale. The two pilots were rescued by passing motorists. Neither appear to have sustained any injuries.
Looking how the area is today, a line of telephone wires run at right angles to the road across the northern side of the bridge and an earlier version of these wires may well have been the telegraph wies the aeroplane struck.
Pilot - Lt Gordon McGregor Glaholm Sloan RAF.
Pilot - Lt Edward Percy Gates RAF.
Gordon Sloan was born on 16th May 1898 at Nanaimo, British Columbia, Canada and was a law student when he enlisted for military service. He enlisted on 15th November 1916 for army service joining the 239th Battalion, Railway Construction Corps. He was granted a commission in the Royal Flying Corps on 30th November 1917. He was with No.14 Training Squadron (at Bramham Moor) from 28th December 1917 then later went to No.46 Training Squadron (at Catterick) on 15th February 1918. He went to 127 Squadron at Catterick in May 1918 and became an assistant instructor at 127 Squadron just before 8th June 1918. He later joined the staff of No.49 Training Depot Station (also at Catterick). He was transferred to the Unemployed List on 12th June 1919. He returned to British Columbia and became a prominant lawyer. He died in January 1959.
Edward Percy Gates was born on 24th June 1889 in Hackney, London. He joined the 3rd Signal Squadron, Royal Engineers in 1914 and served in France from October 1914. He later transferred to the Royal Flying Corps in Summer and was granted a commission on 5th January 1918. He was posted from No.49 Training Squadron (at Doncaster) to 127 Squadron on 20th May 1918 (at Catterick) then later to No.49 TDS (also at Catterick). His service continued at various units until he was placed on the Unemployed List on 21st October 1919. He died in 1952.