Magister N3860 near Kiplingcotes.
On 15th December 1939 this 234 Squadron's training aircraft was being flown over the Yorkshire Wolds, between Leconfield and Market Weighton area when it entered into an uncontrollable spin during a flying exercise. The aircraft crashed into a small field next to the railway line at Kiplingcotes and was badly damaged. Fortunately the two pilots escaped with their lives having been pulled from the aircraft by passing members of the public. The photograph shown above is probably the field where the crash occurred, as it was when I passed the area in February 2023.
Trainee Pilot - Acting P/O John Hemingway RAF (41922). Seriously injured.
Instructor Pilot - Acting P/O Charles Bernard Elsdon RAF (41913). Seriously injured.
Charles Elsdon was almost certainly born in the Eastry district of Kent in 1919. He received a commission in the RAF to Acting P/O on
probation on 15th April 1939, and was made P/O on probation 6th November 1939. His commission was terminated on 3rd August 1940 on the cessation
of duty almost certainly because of the injuries he sustained in the accident detailed above. He later re-joined the RAF at the bottom and became
a pilot in Bomber Command, after completing his training he was posted to 12 Squadron. He gained the DFM (1267928) for service with 12 Squadron,
Gazetted on 23rd September 1941. On 12th October 1941 he was the pilot of Wellington W5552, the aircraft was shot down and he and his crew were
made a PoW's. After his release he continued his service until the 1950's. He married in Gloucestershire in 1951 and died in Gloucester in 1991.
John Hemingway also received a commission on 15th April 1939 to Acting P/O on probation, he terminated his commission on cessation of duty
on 1st July 1940, presumably after the injuries sustained in the crash detailed above.
Magister N3860 was built to contract 778435/38 by Phillips and Powis at Woodley and was delivered to 9 M.U. based at Cosford on 5th December 1938 for
long term storage. It was then issued to 234 Squadron at Leconfield on 9th November 1939. (This unit had reformed at Leconfield on 30th October
1939). Cat.W/FA was the damage assessment following this accident on 15th December 1939 and it was struck off charge on 28th December 1939. The wreckage was moved
to 60 MU at Shipton by Benningborough for salvage on 7th January 1940.