Audax K3093 damaged in air, landed safely at Catterick airfield.
On 29th April 1935 this 26 (Army Co-Operation) Squadron aircraft was flying closely in formation with Audax K3092 and a third of the same unit in the Catterick area. All the aircraft had been practicing formation flying for flights that were to made for The King's Jubilee celebrations at Catterick Camp and also for an RAF display at Hendon. Audax K3093 was being flown by the leader of the formation and a passenger in the aircraft was stood up making signals to the other two formating aircraft. While the aircraft were making a dive Audax K3092 entered an air pocket and moved in the air. K3093 and K3092 collided with a wing tip of K3092 striking the tail of K3093. The passenger in Audax K3093 was not strapped in he was thrown from the aircraft in the air. He died when he hit he ground on or close to Catterick aerodrome. The both aircraft landed safely at Catterick.
Pilot - F/Lt Geoffrey Augustus Graydon Johnston RAF (24054). Unhurt.
Passenger - LAC Wilfred Willoughby Green RAF (363394), aged 28. Buried Catterick Cemetery, Yorkshire.
Additional into his and his family can be found here... "http://maturin.org.uk/Augustus-1828/".
Wilfred Green left a wife and two children.
Geoffrey Augustus Johnston was born on 11th July 1908 at Brough, Westmorland and was educated at Rossall School, Fleetwood, Lancashire. He was granted a short service commission in the RAF as P/O on probation on 15th January 1927 and rose to F/O on 15th July 1928. In 1931 he was granted a permanent commission for medium service in the rank of F/Lt. He was posted to 26 Squadron on 5th July 1934. He was the Commanding Officer of 41 Squadron from August 1939 until April 1940. Serving in the RAF for all of the war in the higher ranks he remained in the RAF post-ww2, serving in Changi between 1947 and 1950 (being granted a CBE in 1949), then as commanding officer at Hemswell and Scampton before a posting to Bomber Command HQ in 1954. In 1956 he was serving as Air Attache in Cairo during the Suez Crisis. He retired from the RAF in 1957 the served in the Colonial Service for ten years before retiring. He died in Cheltenham in 1994.
Audax K3093 was built to contract 190684/32 by Hawker Aircraft Ltd. at Kingston and was delivered to 26 Squadron at Catterick on 13th July 1933. On 29th April 1935 minor Cat.M/FA damage resulted after this collision. It was repaired on site at Catterick and returned to 26 Squadron use. On 15th January 1935 it was transferred to H.A.D. at Henlow for storage. On 18th March 1936 it was taken on charge again by 26 Squadron at Catterick but in 1937 was transferred to 4 Squadron at Farnborough. In September 1937 it was transferred to 4 MU at Ternhill for storage and later sent to Rollason's at Croydon for servicing and repair. On completion of repair it went to 27 MU at Shawbury for storage. In August 1939 it was taken on charge by 32 ERFTS at Greatham and on 3rd September 1939 it was transferred to 10 FTS at Ternhill. On an unknown date it was transferred to 7 FTS at Peterborough. On 21st June 1940 the engine cut and it stalled when making a forced landing and overturned at Collingbourne Ducis, Wiltshire. After assessment it was declared beyond economic repair and was struck off charge on 1st July 1940 with Cat.W/FA damage recorded.