On 6th May 1937 this No.9 Flying Training School aircraft overshot a night landing at Thornaby airfield and ran through the boundary hedge before running over a road. Two civilian cyclists who were on the road at the time were seriously injured when the aircraft struck them. The aircraft was later repaired. The civilian's names are not yet known.
Pilot - P/O William Bellingham Swan Simpson RAF (36085).
Two cyclists - Names unknown. Seriously injured.
William Simpson was selected for appointment to a permanent commission in the RAF from Cambridge University Squadron on 19th October 1936 (with seniority 19th July 1935) having gain an M.A at Cambridge University. He was posted to 110 Squadron at Waddington on 30th June 1937 soon after its re-formation. He rose to F/O on an unknown date and then to F/Lt on 19th April 1939 (seniority 19th January 1939), S/Ldr (temp) on 1st September 1940 but had transferred to the Technical Branch on 24th April 1940. He was promoted to W/Co (temp) on 1st December 1941. Post-War he remained in the RAF and rose to W/Co on 1st July 1948 and then to G/Cpt on 1st July 1956.
Audax K7308 was built to contract 437223/35 by A.V. Roe Ltd at Chadderton and was delivered to 9 FTS on 7th July 1936. Following the accident detailed above Cat.R/FA damage was recorded and it was repaired and returned to service only to be written off with Cat.W/FA(burnt) damage in an accident on 17th April 1940. The wreckage was taken to 50 MU on 23rd April 1940 and struck off charge a day later.
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