Fairey Flycatcher N9615 near Newsham, Thirsk.

On 29th March 1927 three Fairey Flycatchers of 405 Flt, HMS Furious were in the process of being flown from an aerodrome in the English Channel area (Gosport?) back up to their regular home aerodrome of Donibristle, Fife when fog effected flying conditions over Yorkshire. One of the three managed to locate Catterick Camp and then land without incident which was where they had planned a stop en-route. He is recorded in a newspaper report as descending so low at Baldersby as to read a sign on the Great North Road crossroads. The other two pilots were unfortunately less successful with both crashing around 10.00hrs. One aeroplane (with Lt Sharman as pilot) was force landed on farmland near Thirsk Lodge Farm, Thirsk but the landing was rough and the undercarriage was torn off prior to it overturning. Men operating threshing equipment on nearby Woodhill Grange Farm witnessed the crash and while they ran to the scene, the pilot was able to free himself, sustaining only a slight injury. The other aeroplane (piloted by Lt Birley) narrowly escaped crashing onto what is now the East Coast Main Line railway line, between Northallerton and Thirsk, but then crashed in a nearby field at Manor House Farm, Newsham. The undercarriage was also torn off and the engine buried in the soil with it coming to rest on its side. The pilot (Lt Birley) was trapped and was injured, he was pulled clear by farm workers and taken to hospital in Thirsk.

Pilot - Lt Geoffrey Herter Birley RN. Injured.