Avro 504 G-AAUJ near Plompton.
On 5th October 1932 this aircraft was one of the aircraft used as part of Sir Alan Cobham’s 1932 National Aviation Day Display Tour. A temporary airfield was set up at Oak View, Plompton, Harrogate for the occasion and during the day various flights were made. One aircraft used was Avro 504 G-AAUJ and the pilot carried twp passengers for aerobatic flights. During one flight the aircraft struck the ground and crashed near Plompton, sadly killing one of the passengers. This was one of the few very serious accidents that occurred during Sir Alan Cobham's flying displays.
Pilot - Captain Edward Duncan Crundall DFC RAFO (70154?). Slightly injured.
Passenger - Mr Robert Arthur Snow, aged 33. Killed. Born Pateley Bridge, Yorkshire. Buried St.James Churchyard, Birstwith, North Yorkshire.
Passenger - Mr George Reginald Walker. Slightly injured.
Avro 504 G-AAUJ was owned by Percival Phillips, of St.Austell, Cornwall and was first registered to him on 24th June 1932. It was recorded as being destroyed or permanently withdrawn from use by December 1932, as a result of the crash a few weeks earlier at Plompton.
Edward Crundall was born on 9th December 1896 at Dover, Kent. He was awarded Royal Aero Club Aviators' Certificate (Cert.No.2543) following training at RNAS Eastbourne during WW1. He served in France and was credited with the destruction of seven enemy aircraft. Relinquishing his commission in the RAF on 28th August 1919 he was awarded the DFC for service during WW1. He appears to have been awarded a second Royal Aero Club Aviators' Certificate (Cert.No.9252) following training at the Cinque Ports Aero Club on 3rd July 1930. He served throughout WW2 and was awarded the AFC in 1945. He died in 1981 in Brighton.