On 11th October 1940 the pilot of this 248 Squadron aircraft was returning from fighter escort duties with a mine laying convoy. Whilst based at Sumburgh the aircraft was due to land at
Thornaby, he approached the landing at too high a height and at 19.50hrs he touched down too far along the runway and overshot the airfield. The aircraft sustained damage but
was later repaired.
Pilot - P/O Victor Anthony Ricketts RAF (77341).
Crew - Names unknown.
Victor Ricketts was killed on 12th July 1942 while flying with No.1 P.R.U. when Mosquito W4089 crashed in Europe.
A date of 13th October 1940 is also given elsewhere with a possible location of "behind Great Ayton station" being the place where an aircraft landed. This is now known not
to refer to this specfic incident detailed above. The mention of an aircraft crashing here could relate to the Hudson on Easby Moor (Captain Cooks Monument), which is also
technically "behind" the railway station, if not some distance beyond and the wrong date.
Blenheim L9448 had a long service history, it was built to contract 569202/36 by Rootes Securities Ltd. at Speke before being delivered to MU in February 1940 and it was immediately
issued to 248 Squadron, then based at North Coates. It moved with the unit to Thorney Island on 8th April 1940 and then to Gosport on 16th April 1940. It then to went with
the Unit to Dyce on 22nd May 1940 before finally arriving at Sumburgh on 20th July 1940. In the above incident it sustained Cat.R/FA damage on 11th October 1940. It was
repaired and returned to service. After repair it was issued to 235 Squadron at Bircham Newton some time in 1941. It transferred
to 143 Squadron at Sumburgh in September 1941 before it again moved to 489 Squadron RNZAF at Leuchars in the same month shortly
after the unit formed. It was transferred to 143 Squadron at Aldergrove on 14th December 1941 when the unit became a Coastal
Command training unit. It was written off in a Cat.E2/FA crash at Ballykelly on 25th April 1942 two days after the unit had moved to Limavady.
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