Bristol F.2b J8271 on Lodge Moor, Great Whernside.

Pretty much all of this information comes through Howard Newbould.

On 3rd April 1929 No.4 Squadron moved their twelve Bristol F.2b fighters, consisting of three flights, from Farnborough to Sutton Bridge to undertake air firing training exercises. On 18th April 1929 A and B-Flights returned to Farnborough. On the same day three aircraft of C-Flight were intending to fly to Catterick rather than head south. Unfortunately thick fog on the flight north saw the three aircraft become seperated. One of these is listed in the unit records as force landing on a high mountain near Middlesmoor, Yorkshire.

For decades an unidentified aeroplane has been rumoured to have made a forced landing on the eastern side of Great Whernside with references made to workmen building the reservoirs of Scar House and Agram assisting the crew. It is highly likely that the incident on 18th April 1929 and this are one and the same incident.

The The 4 Squadron records do not give the service number but checking through all Bristol F.2b's they had, J8271 is the only one that could fit the bill for the identity. It was taken off squadron charge in April 1929, with it returning to a new flying unit in December 1929. This suggests it was under repair during the missing months.

Pilot - F/O Charles Ivar Arthur Jackson RAF.

Passenger - Name unknown.

Charles Jackson was born on 7th February 1902 at Tullylough, Cavan, Ireland and was the son of Charles Anthony and Lilian Maude (nee Wilson) Jackson. When the 1921 Census was compiled he was training for British Army service at Sandhurst College. He was granted a commission in the Tank Corps as 2nd Lt on 1st February 1923 and was promoted to Lt on 1st February 1927. On 16th July 1927 he was granted a temporary commission in the RAF to the rank of F/O. After training at No.2 Flying Training School he was posted to No.4 Squadron at Farnborough on 18th July 1928. He was later promoted to F/Lt 1st January 1931. In July 1931 he reliquished his temporary RAF commission and returned to the Royal Tank Corps. In 1936 he was re-seconded for RAF duty and returned to 4 Squadron. He reliquished this commission in November 1939 and returned to the army. In February 1940 he was promoted to the rank of Major, in the Royal Armoured Corps. He became an early commanding officer of No.11 Btn, SAS but was later dismissed by court martial from the Army in Oct 1948. He died 28th October 1990 in Durham.

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