Sopwith Baby N2078 near Hornsea.
On 23rd April 1918 this RAF seaplane made a forced landing on farmland around a mile north-west of Hornsea Mere with the pilot struggling with fog that affected visibility. It was slightly damaged and the pilot was slightly injured. The aeroplane was part of the War Flight, technically based at Killingholme but with a sub-station at Hornsea Mere. The aeroplane was repaired and returned to the unit, which later became No.453 (Baby Seaplane) Flight. It carried the nickname / fuselage wording of "Jabberwock".
Pilot - Lt Donald Charles Swinton Bland RAF. Slightly injured.
Donald Bland was born on 29th May 1899 at Ripon, Yorkshire. his father may well have been a teacher at Bishopton as his address when he enlisted as given as the School House, Bishopton. In numerous written accounts others claim that this pilot was an American; this is totally false and I have no idea where some people pick their "information" from. Donald was a student prior to enlisting into the RNAS on 13th May 1917. He trained at the RNAS Flying School at Redcar between 16th June 1917 and 8th September 1917 and following further training at Cranwell he was granted a commission to the rank of Flight Sub Lieut on 15th November 1917. He then undertook seaplane pilot training and was posted to RNAS Killingholme on 15th March 1918 who had control of the RNAS sub-station at Hornsea Mere. On 26th March 1918 he landed Sopwith Baby N2079 on the sea a mile east of Hornsea during a patrol which then overturned. He had been in the air for just over two hours prior to the forced landing. He was picked up uninjured by a boat and the aeroplane appears to have also been either towed to shore or been lifted out by a motor coble. He sustained injuries in the crash of Sopwith Baby N2078 on 23rd April 1918 though recovered and returned to flying duties. He later served with 248 Squadron and 251 Squadron before being placed on the Unemployed List in 1919. He died in 1974 in Dorset.