Avro 504 F2574 at York.
During the evening of Tuesday, 24th May 1921 this 39 Squadron aeroplane was flown around the city of York several times with an important passenger who was serving as aide-de camp to Lt.Gen. Sir Ivor Maxse, General Officer Commanding-in-Chief for Northern Command, British Army. At just after 18.30hrs and while landing on the Knavesmire aerodrome site at York the pilot made a turn but stalled, lost control resulting in the aeroplane side-slipping and then crashing into the ground. The passenger (in the front seat) was seriously injured while the pilot was also injured but to a lesser degree. Both were taken to Fulford Military Hospital and both recovered. Northern Command had their headquarters at York so it seems likely the aeroplane was at York because of the passenger's role within the Army. The pilot's casualty card is hard to read but makes reference to the aeroplane being used to fly the army officer to Lincoln and that the aeroplane had been on some sort of flight from Howden to Duxford. In trying to piece together the snipits of information it seems likely that the RAF pilot flew to York and picked up his Army passenger, made a few circuits of York before attempting to land for some reason and crashed while doing so.
Pilot - F/O Cyril Chambers RAF. Injured.
Passenger - Captain Richard Barstow Howey. Coldstream Guards.
Richard Howey was killed in a motor racing accident during a hill climb in France in August 1926, but unfortunately when his body was being brought back to the UK the car in which the coffin was in fell off the boat and sunk in the English Channel. He therefore has no known grave.
Cyril Chambers was killed on 2nd February 1923 when 100 Squadron Avro 504 J732 crashed at Spittlegate, he was twenty four years old.