DH.60 Gipsy Moth G-AAEL at Armthorpe.
On an unknown date in July 1932 this aeroplane was taken out for a flight by an unauthorised person but was then damaged on landing at Armthorpe. The aeroplane was owned by the Doncaster Aviation Company Ltd and operated by the Danum Aero Club. Unfortunately for them, their insurance company refused to admit liability because the pilot was unauthorised to fly it so the company paid for the repairs to be done themselves by Blackburn Aeroplane Company at Brough. It was repaired within the month and returned to Armthorpe.
Pilot - Name unknown.
On 1st August 1932 this aeroplane crashed at Armthorpe killing two of the three people on board.
The initial Doncaster Aviation Company appears to have been formed around the time that the directors formed the "Danum Aero Club" in early 1932 with the aerodrome at Armthorpe being licenced for their use. Thomas John Mammatt put up the initial thousand pounds and the company was formed. By June 1932 Doncaster Aviation Company Ltd was then registered, Thomas Mammatt was Managing Director, with Directors Augustus Alderson (who was also chairman of Danum Aero Club) and Harry Addy (possibly also J G Sanderson). Doncaster National Aviation Day on 16th June 1932 saw the opening event at the Danum Aero Club with Sir Alan Cobham's Air Circus visiting. The company acquired the use of two aeroplanes from the London Aeroplane Club, Stag Lane Aerodrome; these two must have been Gipsy Moth G-AAEL and Puss Moth G-ABEC registered to them around the end of July 1932. Eric Swiss was appointed as the company's official pilot in late-July 1932 and on 1st August 1932 the company / club organised the flying gala at Armthorpe. After loosing G-AAEL in the crash in August 1932 the company appear to be purchased at least one replacement aeroplanes. By the end of 1932 the Doncaster Aviation Company Ltd was in significant debt and was wound up as bankrupt. Following the crash in August 1932 detailed above the insurance company refused to admit liability, almost certainly because the company directors knew the pilot was not qualified to take passengers, the pilot was also a director of the company and the chairman of the flying club, and that the aeroplane was not designed for three persons. A later Doncaster flying club appears to have had no links to this failed business.