Battle N2102 near Wilberfoss.
In February 1940 234 Squadron was about to begin converting from flying Battles and Blenheims to Spitfires. On 27th February 1940 the pilot of this aircraft was undertaking a local
flying exercise when the engine of his aircraft failed in the Pocklington area and after the aircraft suffered engine failure he attempted to bellyland it but hit a hedge just before
touching down in a field near Mill Farm, Wilberfoss. He may well have been new to the squadron and was familiarizing himself with the area of his new posting when this incident
occurred. The aircraft was recovered by 60 MU the following day but the damage was enough for it to be written off.
Pilot - P/O Gordon Santo Crimp RAF (41904), possibly slight injured?
He was born in the Salisbury area of Wiltshire in 1919 and he had two brothers, John Santo Crimp who was born in Ruthin, Wales in 1920 and Alexander Santo Crimp who was also born
in Wales in 1922, all three served in the Australia forces during WW2.
Gordon Crimp was probably born in the UK but later became an Australian national. He was granted a Short Service commission in the RAF on 15th April 1939 to the rank of Acting P/O
on probation. He was confirmed in the rank of P/O on probation on 6th November 1939 and to P/O on 6th February 1940. He rose to F/O on 6th November 1940 and F/Lt exactly a year later.
In April 1943 his wife gave birth to a daughter in Aberdeen, Scotland. He survived the War and continued his service at least until January 1952 when he extended his period of service
for a further five years. The Australian National Archives database yields an un-opened file for his release from service in the UK and arriving in Austalia in August 1946. Searching
for his rather unusual name on Google reveals someone with the same name as working in Air Control in Guildford, Perth, Australia in 1951.
Battle N2102 was built to contract 768880/38 by Fairey Aviation Ltd at Stockport and delivered to 602 Squadron based at Abbotsinch on 23rd March 1939. On 4th May 1939 it
suffered a Cat.M/FA mishap when it hit a house on approach to land at Abbotsinch but was able to land safely. It was repaired on site and returned to the unit. It later transferred
to 266 Squadron at Sutton Bridge on 8th January 1940 and then was transferred to 234 Squadron at Leconfield on 24th February 1940. Four days later it suffered the accident at Wilberfoss
as detailed above and after inspection by 60 MU Cat.W/FA was recorded. It was struck off charge on 7th March 1940. The aircraft was an unusual one in that it was one of only a few
made with dual controls.