Bristol F2b J8458 at Treeton, Sheffield.
On Tuesday, 23rd September 1930 the pilot of this No.2 Flying Training School aircraft took off from Digby airfield to undertake a cross country training flight, believed to have been to Upper Heyford and return to Digby. To qualify for the award of his pilot's Wings four such flights had to be made and this was the final one. On his return north he lost way. With the engine of the aircraft mis-firing he made a good forced landing in a field near Treeton colliery, between Sheffield and Rotherham. After enquiring where he was and checking the engine he decided to take off again. The aircraft rose to between forty and fifty feet and then the engine cut out, it crashed into the next field and was badly damaged. Having received head and leg injuries he was pulled from the wreckage by a group of miners and taken to hospital in Rotherham but sadly died of these injuries two days later.
Pilot - P/O Alfred Cecil Sant RAF (S.No.?), aged 25. Buried Scopwick Church Burial Ground, Lincolnshire.
Alfred Sant was born in June 1905 in London and was the youngest son of Rev. Edward and Margaret Sant. By 1911 the family were living at Elsenham, Essex. His flying logbook was for sale on Ebay in the last few years, the seller gave a good account of his RAF service. He was granted a short service commission to the rank of P/O on probation on 27th December 1929 and was posted to No.2 F.T.S. On 15th January 1930 he under took his first flight as a passenger in Avro Lynx J9688. His time at 2 F.T.S. lasted some months, on 4th July 1930 he first flew in a Bristol Fighter as a passenger in J8278. An elder brother, 2Lt Edward Medley Sant RFC was reported missing on 1st September 1917 when his aircraft was shot down in France. Two other brothers also served in WW1; one in the RFC and one in the Army.
Bristol F2b J8458 was the very last Bristol Fighter to come of the production line. It was delivered to the RAF in June 1927 and only ever served with No.2 F.T.S. at Digby.