Harrow K6983 at Headley Bar, Tadcaster.
The 21st April 1940 was Harrow K6983's first day with it's new Unit, 271 Squadron, and it was being flown to Doncaster to begin service with them. In the Tadcaster area bad weather was
encountered and the pilot of the aircraft was intending to force-land on the former First World War airstrip at Bramham, to the west of Tadcaster. The aircraft hit a bank nearby
at Headley Bar and crashed. The crash site is almost certainly very close to the modern dual-carriageway A64 and close to where the IRA would shoot dead two police officers in the 1990's.
With this being an outdated aircraft it was deemed not worth repairable and was written off.
Crew - Name unknown.
Technically 271 Squadron did not exist until 1st May 1940, having being known as the Civil Aircraft Flight of the National Air Communication Flight having been
formed at Doncaster in September 1939. It is likely that the unit was accepting aircraft prior to that date, perhaps out-dated aircraft with no real future in the front-line
defence of the country.
Harrow K6983 was built to contract 435062/35 by Handley Page Ltd. at Radlett and delivered to A&AEE at Martlesham Heath on 30th August 1937
for turret ventilation trials and when this was complete it was issued to 115 Squadron at Marham on 12th November 1937. It went to Rollason's Aircraft Services Ltd.
at Croydon on 18th April 1939 for modifications and on completion of this work it went to 9 MU at Cosford (ASU) for storage. Some months later it was
allocated to 271 Squadron at Doncaster and on 21st April 1940 the delivery flight took place and the accident occurred, Cat.W/FA damage was recorded after inspection
by 60 MU the following day. (They recorded the aircraft as K6982 and incorrectly spelt Headley as Hedley). It was struck off charge on 6th May 1940.