Blackburn B.2 G-ACLC near Brough.
On 24th June 1940 this aircraft was being flown on a training flight around the general Brough area, when the aircraft was over The Humber in the general area off Brough it collided with Blackburn B.2 G-ADFS that was also being flown on a similar training flight with the same unit; No.4 E.F.T.S. Unfortunately G-ADFS fell into The Humber and the pilot of that aircraft could not be rescued at the time (his body was located on 5th July 1940). I have not found any conclusive proof where G-ACLC crashed although it appears to have crashed on land on the north side of the river. Both the crew were seriously injured as a result of the incident but the unit record book does not state whether the aircraft crashed on land or in the water. I am making a suggestion that it crashed on land as both airmen appears to have been swiftly taken to Hull Royal Infirmary where one died of his injuries on 27th June 1940. Had it crashed in the water getting to them to rescue them would have been hard depending on the tide state and had it crashed in Lincolnshire then surely they would have been admitted to hospital on that side of the water (as the Humber Bridge did not exist for another forty years).
Pilot - Sgt James Harold Haselden RAFVR (741905), aged 23. Died 27th June 1940. Buried Grimsby (Scartho Road) Cemetery, Lincolnshire.
Passenger (Pupil pilot) - LAC Lloyd Edgar Farrow RAFVR (901170). Seriously injured.
Blackburn B.2 G-ACLC was built by the Blackburn Aircraft Co.Ltd. at Brough and was registered to them on 1st December 1936. The aircraft was then operated by the Blackburn Aircraft Co. Ltd., under the guise of 4 E&RFTS at Brough. On 3rd September 1939 the unit was re-designated 4 E.F.T.S. and as a result of the crash on 24th June 1940 the aircraft was written off having sustained Cat.W damage.
James Haselden was awarded his Royal Aviators' Certificate (Cert.No.17491) on 27th March 1939 at the Grimsby Aero Club.
Lloyd Farrow died in the Ilkley area on 7th September 1941 and is buried in Ilkley Cemetery, Yorkshire. Whether he died from complications that resulted from his injuries sustained well over a year earlier in this accident in June 1940 I have yet to learn.