Spitfire R6814 near Burneston, south of Bedale.
On 24th October 1940 the pilot of this 54 Squadron aircraft was undertaking a training flight when the aircraft engine caught fire in the air. He safely baled out at 17.50hrs and the aircraft crashed near Burneston. The location given in a police report for where the aircraft crashed is virtually in the village but this may be an error for the actual location of the village rather than the site of where the aircraft struck the ground. Nothing more is currently known.
Pilot - F/O Edward Francis John Charles RAF (36198).
Edward Charles was the son of an WW1 RFC pilot, although being born in Coventry his family moved to Lashburn, Saskatchewan, Canada when he was a child. He joined the RCAF
in Canada in early 1938 and trained as a pilot but in May 1939 he transferred to the RAF. After training he served with 81 Squadron and 2 Squadron before going through 7 OTU
and arriving at 54 Squadron on 2nd September 1940. He spent May 1941 away from 54 Squadron but returned on 6th June 1941 until 18th October 1941. He was awarded the DFC with 54 Squadron, Gazetted on 15th July 1941. The Citation reads.. "This officer has displayed exceptional zeal and immense enthusiasm during the many offensive sweeps carried out by his unit. He has destroyed at least three enemy aircraft." Rising in rank he later acted as an instructor with 9 SFTS and after a period at 52 OTU was posted to 64 Squadron in January 1943.
He was awarded the Bar to the DFC for service with 611 Squadron, which appeared in the London Gazette on 16th July 1943, and four days later the US Silver Star. The Citation for his Bar to the DFC reads.. "This officer is a first class fighter, whose fine leadership, cool judgment and efficiency have set an admirable example. He has destroyed 13 enemy aircraft and damaged several more." On 29th October 1943 the London Gazette published the Citation for Acting W/C Charles' DSO award, this reads..
"Wing Commander Charles is an inspiring leader, whose great skill and tenacity have contributed
materially to the successes obtained by the formations with which he has flown. In September, 1943,
he led a formation of fighters which acted as escort to a bomber force detailed to attack
an airfield in Northern France. During the operation, operation, 12 enemy fighters were
engaged and, in the ensuing combats, 4 of the hostile aircraft were shot down, one of them
by Wing Commander Charles. This officer, who has destroyed at least 15 enemy aircraft, has
displayed great courage and unflagging devotion to duty." He transferred back to the RCAF and returned to Canada as W/Co in 1944 and served post war in the RCAF with 426 Squadron before retiring. He died in Vancouver on 5th November 1986.
Spitfire R6814 was built to contract 19713/39 by Vickers Armstrong's (Supermarine) Ltd. at Eastleigh and was first test flown on 25th June 1940.
On 26th June 1940 it was delivered to 8 MU at Little Rissington and was assigned to 54 Squadron on 12th July 1940 then based at Rochford. On 21st
August 1940, for unspecified reasons, it was taken to AST Ltd at Hamble for a quick but unspecified repair. On 27th August 1940 it was flown to
8 MU at Little Rissington again and on 1st September 1940 flown back to 54 Squadron now at Hornchurch. On 3rd September 1940 it moved with the
unit to Catterick. It was destroyed on 24th October 1940 following the incident recorded above with Cat.W/FA(Burnt) damage recorded. It was struck off
charge on 31st October 1940.