Unidentified Vickers Virginia at Wilton.

This aeroplane was described in newspaper reports for the incident as being a new Vickers night bomber. The Vickers Virginia was reasonably new at that time and appears to fit the aeroplane type but whether it was I have yet to determine. Probably on 3rd September 1925 during a planned lengthy flight from an aerodrome near Norwich was begun, it would have taken the crew over Scotland and then return to base. During what appears to have been the flight back south and while over the Cleveland Hills the aeroplane suffered a radiator burst and as a result the engine connected to it overheated. In thick mist and rain the pilot managed to locate lower ground and force land in a field at Wilton, near Redcar but the landing was heavy and the undercarriage collapsed. The five person crew escaped injury. The date of the incident is not mentioned in the newspaper reports I have located. On Friday, 4th September 1925 a road party arrived on site to dismantle and transport the aeroplane back to Norwich. The exact date of the forced landing is unclear but given it would take some time for the road party to drive from Norfolk to Middlesbrough, the date of the crash would probably be the day before the road party arrived.

Pilot - Name unknown.

Four others - Names unknown.