Atlas J9988 at Wighill.
On 30th June 1933 this 26 Squadron was being flown from an aerodrome in the London area towards Catterick, where 26 Squadron were based, when the aeroplane ran out of fuel. The pilot attempted to make a forced landing in the Tadcaster area but came in low for his selected field near Wighill. Having noticed cows in the field he tried to lift the aeroplane to avoid them but it would not climb. The aeroplane clipped one hedge, touched down on a road and then passed through another hedge causing it to overturn in the ajoining field. Why this Atlas was in the South of England is not known. The following day 26 Squadron began to convert to flying the modern Hawker Audax.
Pilot - Name unknown.
Armstrong Whitworth Atlas was built to contract 933799/29 by Armstrong Whitworth Ltd. at Baginton. During June 1930 it was taken on charge by the RAF College at Cranwell. In March 1931 it was transferred to 26 Squadron at Catterick but as a result of the crash near Wighill on 30th June 1933 Cat.W/FA damage was the damage assessment and it was struck off charge.