Avro Cadet G-ACXJ at High Storrs School, Sheffield.
Two aeroplanes that were part of the York County Aviation Club had flown from Sherburn in Elmet to Walsall to attend the South Staffordshire Flying Club's open day during the weekend of 27th / 28th March 1937. On Sunday, 28th March 1937 both aeroplanes were flown back towards Sherburn in Elmet aerodrome but a snow storm over the Sheffield area caused those flying each one problems and they became seperated. One Avro Cadet, owned by the club and piloted by a club instructor with a pupil at the controls, was force landed on the playing fields at Sheffield High Storrs Secondary School, in the Bents Green area of the city, narrowly missing football goals and a pavilion. No damage was sustained, it was parked at the edge of the field and covered over. The following day it flew back to Sherburn in Elmet. The identity of this Avro Cadet is not known but the York County Aviation Club appear to have owned three Cadets in 1937, those being G-ACXJ, G-ADEG and G-ADEH, that said; ADEG and ADEH were probably the two new ones that arrived at Sherburn in mid-April 1937. I therefore hazard a guess at it being G-ACXJ.
The other aeroplane that was also flying toward Sherburn in Elmet was also force landed at Ackworth where the two men checked where they were and the intended route. They then took off before dark and landed safely at Sherburn in Elmet. I have created a seperate webpage for this incident.
The York County Aviation Club was wound up in September 1937 when they were evicted from Sherburn in Elmet soon after Robert Blackburn bought the land.
Pilot (instructor) - Mr A W Vincent.
Pilot (pupil) - Mr R J Pattinson.