Gladiator K6144 near Monk Fryston.
Very little is known about this incident other than on 1st December 1938 this 72 Squadron aircraft took off from Church Fenton with the pilot tasked with flying an "S.T. pin pointing exercise". During the flight the aircraft entered an uncontrollable spin from which the pilot was unable to recover the aircraft, he then baled out and the aircraft crashed around a mile east of Monk Fryston.
Pilot - P/O Thomas Arthur Francis Elsdon RAF (33308). Minor injuries.
On 7th September 1940 F/O Elsdon was severely injured in a knee and a shoulder when his Spitfire X4254 was badly damaged in combat with Bf109’s over the Thames Estuary. For service with 72 Squadron Thomas Elsdon was awarded the DFC, Gazetted on 8th October 1940. The citation states "Since 31st August 1940, this officer has destroyed six enemy aircraft, bringing his total to eight. On 4th September 1940, when leading his squadron, his method of attack was successful in destroying nine enemy aircraft and probably three more. A few days later, he brought down the leading aircraft of a bomber formation. His record is outstanding and he has led his section and flight with distinction, showing complete disregard of danger and personal injury." He was also twice Mentioned in Despatches and awarded the OBE in 1945.
With permission from the landowner, historians Ken Reast, Albert Pritchard and Eric Barton searched for fragments of the aircraft on the surface at the crash site in October 2006 to confirm the crash location. Eric retained one small fragment of metal found at the crash site and as far as I can tell this appears to be a piece of household doorway to carpet gripper. Therefore I am unable to confirm whether they actually located the crash site.