A 608 Squadron Botha at Thornaby.
At 05.35hrs on 31st August 1940 this 608 Squadron aircraft took off from Thornaby to undertake a convoy escort flight, the pilot immediately made half a circuit of the airfield and then landed again as there was a problem with the aircraft. After taxying to a dispersal point the pilot opened the port side cockpit window, shouted to ground crew that the engine cowling was loose and also put his arm out of the window to point to the engine. Unfortunately the pilot had his cap in his hand at the time and did not realise that his hand was so close to the revolving propeller, the cap caught on the revolving propeller, drawing his arm into the propeller arc with then struck his hand. A serious hand injury resulted and sadly his hand was later amputated.
Pilot - P/O Raymond Bradley Barrett RAF (42181). Hand injury.
Second Pilot - P/O Ian Arbuthnot Slaughter RAF (42898).
Wireless Operator - LAC Arthur David Birdsall RAFVR (808368).
Air Gunner - P/O Frederick Alexander Meek RAF (78674).
Raymond Barrett received a commission in December 1939. He would relinquish his commission in the RAF on the grounds of ill health in March 1942, almost certainly as a result of these injuries sustained at Thornaby. He was later granted a commission in the RAFO. He was awarded the MBE in June 1950 and remained in the RAF until 12th November 1979.
Ian Slaughter later served with and was awarded the DFC for service with 203 Squadron, Gazetted in July 1941 the citation states.. "This officer has at all times displayed great devotion to duty. In June, 1942, Flying Officer Slaughter skilfully, located, and shadowed an Italian naval force, and passed on vital informiatibn which enabled formations of our aircraft to attack the force without
delay. Throughout he showed great operational efficiency." He survived the war and served into the 1950s.
Frederick Meek also survived the War and transferred to the RCAF in 1953.
Arthur Birdsall was granted a commission in August 1941 and he too survived the War.
Botha L6213 was built to contract 563935/36 by Blackburn Aircraft Ltd. at Brough and was received by 12 MU on 28th July 1940. After a period of MU storage it was taken on charge in by 608 Squadron at Thornaby. The date for transfer is unclear on the AM Form 78 but may state 23rd August 1940. As a result of the crash at Thornaby on 31st August 1940 no damage appears to have resulted to the aircraft and this would technically be a Cat.U/GA damage catagory. On 10th December 1940 the aircraft went to 22 MU and sat until being taken on charge by No.8 B.G.S. at Evanton on 21st April 1941. It later transferred to No.10 A.O.S. at Dumfries on 5th October 1941. It required repair for unspecified damage before the end of the year which saw it being passed to 18 MU on 17th December 1941 and returned to No.10 AOS on 31st December 1941. On 17th January 1942 it was lost on a training flight with it's then crew of four were recorded as missing. Cat.E(m) damage was recorded and it was struck off charge.