Tiger Moth BB801 near Horbury.
On 25th May 1941 the pilot of this 20 E.F.T.S. aircraft was undertaking a training flight when he became lost. The engine possibly then failed while he was attempting a force landing near Horbury, to the west of Wakefield. As a result of the crash landing the aircraft ended up in a quarry and he sustained a broken jaw. There is a map reference given in the pilot's AIR81 casualty file and this plots to the incident being in an old sand quarry between the River Calder and the Calder and Hebble Navigation Canal named on the modern map as "The Strands".
Pilot - LAC A/H Cannings RAFVR (1380672). Slightly injured.
This aircraft was built by The De Havilland Aircraft Co. Ltd. at Hatfield and was first registered on the civilian register as G-ADWF
to Scottish Aviation Ltd. at Prestwick on 9th December 1935. It was later operated by Scottish Aviation Ltd. at Prestwick under the guise
of 12 E&RFTS from 17th February 1936. On 3rd September 1939 this unit was re-designated as 12 EFTS. On 12th October 1940 it was impressed
into the RAF as BB801 and remained with 12 EFTS. On 24th March 1941 it was transferred to 20 EFTS at Yeadon and sustained very minor
Cat.A/GA damage on 20th May 1941 at Yeadon. It was then quickly repaired on site as on 25th May 1941 Cat.B/FA damage sustained when it
force landed near Horbury, between Dewsbury and Wakefield. From here it was dismantled and transported by road to D.H. Ltd. where after further assessment on 27th May
1941 the aircraft was re-Cat.E1 and struck off charge.