Gladiator K7934 near Riplingham.
On 7th February 1938 this 72 Squadron aircraft took off from Church Fenton airfield to undertake a training flight. The purpose of the flight is given in the squadron records as being a camera gun exercise. During the flight the aircraft flew into high tension wires near Riplingham and crashed, the wreckage caught fire and sadly the pilot was killed. A farmer worker who witnessed the crash attempted to rescue the pilot but sustained burns to his legs in the attempt.
Pilot - P/O Alfred Alexander Devany RAF, aged 23, of West Hampstead. Buried Kensal Green Cemetery, Kensal Green, London.
Alfred Devany was granted a commission in the RAF to the rank of Acting P/O on probation on 13th July 1936 and was confirmed in the rank of P/O on 18th May 1937.