Puss Moth G-ABEC "Mary Ann" near Foxholes.
Prior to this incident occurring the Doncaster Aviation Company ran a competition that offered a honeymoon air trip to the first newly married couple to contact the company, with the promise to take them to any destination in the country free of charge. The prize was won by a local couple despite being "advertised" in numerous newspapers across the country. On 1st August 1932 the flight was made during the Doncaster Air Gala held at Armthorpe, by the aviation company's Danum Aero Club. Taking off from Doncaster the aeroplane was intended to be flown to Scarborough but unfortunately a thick mist over the Yorkshire Wolds prevented the pilot from reaching the destination. A forced landing was made near Foxholes without damage to the aeroplane. The passengers continued their journey to Scarborough by road. It appears that the pilot flew the aeroplane back to Doncaster later that day and overflew the club's crashed Gipsy Moth G-AAEL at Armthorpe.
Pilot - Mr Eric Arthur Swiss.
Passenger - Mr Horace Sherwin, of Hexthorpe, Doncaster.
Passenger - Mrs Gladys Sherwin, of Hexthorpe, Doncaster.
Eric Swiss was born on 3rd December 1902 in London, he had flown with the Fleet Air Arm earlier in his life and piloted aeroplanes from aircraft carriers "Furious" and "Glorious". He married in the Rotherham area in 1931. What he did after the Danum Aero Club failed is not yet known. He died in Weymouth in 1973.
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 £1000 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.