Magister P2502 at Yeadon airfield.
On 2nd May 1940 an accident to this aircraft is mentioned in Yeadon's station ORB, it simply states "crashed at Yeadon". The two airmen's names are believed to be the following
despite the pilot's initials possibly being recorded incorrectly as is detailed in his biography below.
Pilot - (probably) P/O Andrew William Fletcher RAF (37280).
Passenger (/Pilot) - P/O Michael John Appleby RAF(Aux) (90962).
Michael Appleby joined 609 (Aux.) Squadron in December 1938 and was called up in August 1939. After a period away training he was posted back to 609 Squadron in May 1940. After
the Battle of Britain he trained as an instructor and survived the War having risen through the ranks to F/Lt. He was granted a commission in the RAF(Aux) on 3rd July 1939 and
took the rank Acting P/O on probation. On 9th December 1939 he was made P/O and exactly a year later he rose to F/O, and again to F/Lt in December 1942. He survived the War
and remained in the Auxillary Air Force. He left the R(Aux)AF as F/Lt on 16th February 1958.
The pilot's initials are given as "A.M.Fletcher" elsewhere but the assumption is made that it was actually "A.W.Fletcher". Born in Cardston, Alberta, Canada, Andrew Fletcher
was granted a short service commission in the RAF as Acting P/O on probation on 16th September 1935. He was confirmed as P/O on 29th February 1936 and was promoted to F/O on
29th August 1938 and F/Lt on 29th August 1939. He was posted to 235 Squadron in June 1940 and served with that unit during the Battle of Britain. He was promted to S/Ldr on
1st September 1940 and awarded the DFC for service with 235 Squadron (Gazetted on 22nd October 1940). He later served as Commanding Officer with 272 Squadron and was Mentioned
in Despatches on January 1941 and awarded the Bar to the DFC on 7th November 1941 for service in Malta. After the war he returned home to Alberta, Canada.
Magister P2502 was built to contract 778435/38 by Phillips & Powis Aircraft Ltd at Hanworth and was delivered to 73 Squadron at Digby on 5th June 1939. It was later transferred to 24 Squadron at Hendon on 17th September 1939 before transfer to Yeadon's Station Flight on 18th October 1939. In the mishap referred to above Cat.R(b)/FA damage was later recorded, it was taken away to be repaired in works and was transported to 1 CRU at Cowley for repair on 12th May 1940. On completion of the repair it passed to 48 MU at Hawarden on 16th July 1940 and place dinto storage. It was later issued to 15 EFTS at Carlisle (Kingstown) on 16th November 1940. On 5th June 1941 crashed while force landing near Coniston during a navigation exercise. Cat.W/FA damage was recorded after inspection and it was struck off charge on 12th June 1941.