Comper Swift G-ABUU in the Shipton by Beningborough / Wigginton / Haxby area.
Over the weekend of 4th to 6th June 1937 the Yorkshire Aeroplane Club ran an international air meeting at the York aerodrome at Rawcliffe / Clifton. Fifteen German, twelve French, four Belgian, two Dutch, one Swiss and two Irish were due to attend with most of these foreign numbers due to take part in a series of air races including an international race. In the end around a hundred aeroplanes arriving at York on 4th and 5th June 1937 with the number of foreign aeroplanes that actually arrived was slightly less than planned (in the region of twelve German, seven French, three Belgian and one Dutch) and lots of British registered aeroplanes making up the other number. Catterick based 26 Squadron were due to attend and give an RAF display but had to cancel owing to being employed in the search of a missing RAF aeroplane that was subsequently located as having crashed in the Lake District. The event was a success and around 10,000 spectators attended. The event saw a series of air races being flown with the ten course being triangular and flown a number of times, almost certainly using turning points north of York. The most likely turning points would have been at Shipton by Beningborough and Haxby though I have not found any confirmation of this was period documents. It would not have been flown over York so the course being in the area north of York seems the most likely, navigation using existing roads and railway lines would have been reasonably straight forward if Shipton and Haxby were used. During the second lap of the second race heat this Comper Swift suffered engine trouble so was force landed. The location is not stated in newspapers but if the course was flown in the area I presume then the landing must also have been within this area. The pilot was based at the Newcastle Flying Club.
Pilot - Miss Constance Ruth Leathart.
The final of the triangluar course had to be flown three times and was won by German, Herr Helmutt Taxis (in Klemm Kl.35 D-ERSI), narrowly beating German, Baron Friedrich Edler Von Braun (in a Focke-Wolfe Fw.44), both of the "Aero Club von Deutschland". Miss Sheila Glass (in a Gipsy Moth (G-ABOE?)), of the Heston Flying Club came third. The winner of the fastest time for the course was won by Herr Ernst Gerbrecht (in Messerschmitt Bf.108 D-INKY) flown during one of the earlier heats.