Audax K7425 in the centre. Photo via Mr Jim Rutland.
On 1st January 1937 this No.9 Flying Training School aircraft taxied into a fuel bowser at Thornaby airfield and was slightly damaged.
Pilot - Acting P/O Clifford Sinclair Farquhar Wood RAF (37920), of Croydon, Surrey.
Clifford Farquhar-Wood was born on 18th July 1916. He received his commission on an unknown date but probably in 1936. He was promoted to F/O on 14th December 1938, F/Lt on 14th August 1939 and S/Ldr (temp) on 1st December 1941. S/Ldr Wood was killed on 22nd October 1943 while serving with 103 Squadron flying Lancaster JB276 on Ops to Kassel.
He was twenty seven years old and is buried in Hannover War Cemetery, Germany. He had had a Mention in Despatches for his service.
Audax K7425 was built to contract 437223/35 by A.V. Roe at Chadderton and was delivered to 9 FTS on 16th Decenber 1936.
It suffered Cat.R/FA damage as a result of the incedent above and after repair it was returned to service only to
suffer another crash some years later on 11th April 1940 when it suffered a Cat.R/Burnt accident. The fire must have
been put out before it was completely gutted and it was then converted to an instructional airframe, carrying the code
"2113M" on 21st July 1940.