Unidentified aeroplane near Little Weighton.
On Sunday, 21st December 1930 an aeroplane was flown from an aerodrome in London north toward Brough. On board with the pilot was the son of owner of the Selfridges stores though he himself was an active pilot during the era. He was due to attend a meeting with Major Frank Bumpas, at Brough. Major Bumpas was the designer for all of the Blackburn aeroplane designs until 1929 so the meeting was probably aviation related and one has to wonder given Bumpas had left his position with Blackburns and Selfridge had an interest in aeroplanes then what was the meeting was about. Unfortunately owing to fog as they neared Brough the pilot could not locate the airfield. Eventually a forced landing was made in a field near Little Weighton without damage. I have located just one very brief newspaper report on this incident which gives away very little nor does it make any reference to the aeroplane type.
Selfridge and Co. Ltd. had a Selfridge Aviation Dept. at this time in history. They owned a number of Dh.60 Moths including G-AAWP and G-ABBJ during December 1930 and used both Stag Lane and Heston as their London flying sites. It seems probable that the aeroplane that landed at Little Weighton may have been one of these two. F/Lt Christopher Clarkson served as aviation manager of Selfridges at the time, he could be a likely candidate for the pilot.
Pilot - Name unknown.
Passenger - Mr Harry Gordon Selfridge Jr.