DH.85 Leopard Moth G-ACPF forced landing at Redcar.

Rather poiniently I created this webpage in the days prior to the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II when the modern media is far different to that of days gone by.

This aeroplane appears to have been leased by British Continental Airways. The company had been tasked with flying from London to Glasgow on 28th January 1936 with photographs of the funeral of King George V that had just taken place and these photographs were to be used in northern newspapers in the morning papers the following day. The flight north was successful, with the pilot taking off from Hatfield, flying to Heston to collect the package, and then heading north using landing / refuelling stops at Hatfield and Usworth before landing at Renfrew where the package was collected. At around 10.00 on Wednesday, 29th January 1936 the aeroplane set out from Renfrew to fly back toward London, the pilot appears to have flown east from Glasgow and then followed the coastal route south to aid navigation south. Unfortunately thick fog effected flying and visibility considerably on the flight south, so much so that when the pilot reached Redcar the pilot made a forced landing on the beach opposite the Coatham Hotel. He later stated that he has thought he was actually further south at Scarborough and not at Redcar. The aeroplane was undamaged but because of the weather the pilot stayed overnight in the hotel and resumed the flight south the following morning, landing at Hedon where it was probably checked over and refuelled before flying back to London. The aeroplane appears to have been owned by Air Hire Ltd, of Heston and was leased to British Continental Airways.

Pilot - Mr George Gatonby Stead, of Croydon.