On 1st November 1939 this 220 Squadron aircraft's undercarriage collapsed on landing at Thornaby and those on board escaped injury. The poor state of the runway at Thornaby was blamed for the crash, this was probably before any concrete landing area was laid.
Pilot - S/Ldr Arthur Edward Louks RAF (27134).
My research into Arthur Louks career is sketchy, there are many gaps in this biography but it is known that he had joined the RAF in the early 1920's as in September 1928 he was granted a short service commission and given the rank of P/O on probation. In September 1933 he was granted a permanent rank of F/O. In March 1937 as F/Lt he was posted to North Coates Fitties (probably to 2 Air Armament School (AAS) or the Air Observer School). Following his time at Thornaby it seems likely he was posted overseas, as he was made Command Engineering Officer at Hal Far airfield, Malta, where he was stationed from mid-1940 to 1941, which must have been his posting after 220 Squadron. He was made Temporary W/C on 1st December 1940 and to W/Co on 24th September 1941. He survived the war and he continued his service rising in the post-war RAF rising to S/Ldr until retiring on 30th December 1949 but retaining the rank of W/C.
Anson K8820 was built to contract 497339/36 by A.V.Roe Ltd at Woodford and was delivered to 224 Squadron at Boscombe Down on 2nd July 1937, it moved with the unit to Thornaby on 9th July 1937. 224 Squadron then moved to Eastleigh on 17th January 1938 and it again moved with them, it returned to Thornaby with them on 26th March 1938. It was sent to A.V.Roe Ltd at Woodford for modifications 20th May 1938 and returned to 224 Squadron at Thornaby on 31st May 1938. It transferred to 220 Squadron at Bircham Newton on 27th June 1939. 220 Squadron then moved to Thornaby on 21st August 1939. After the mishap at Thornaby detailed above Cat.R/FA damage was recorded, after assessment it was allocated to 47 MU at Burtonwood for repair on 7th December 1939 but must have remained at Thornaby as 47 MU were not up and running until December 1939. It was transported by road to Martin Hearn's Ltd at Hooton Park for repair on 15th January 1940 and remained there for some considerable time before being flown to 37 MU at Burtonwood (ASU) on 29th December 1940. On paper it transferred to the RCAF on 22nd February 1941 but there is no record of this aircraft being shipped to Canada and it was never allocated an RCAF serial. It is possible that it served with one of the newly formed RCAF squadrons in the UK as a transport aircraft but nothing more is known.