Tiger Moth BB803 at Yeadon airfield.
On 8th August 1941 the inexperienced pilot of this 20 E.F.T.S. aircraft made a heavy landing at Yeadon and the aircraft was slightly damaged.
Pilot - Sgt Lawrence Harry Wood RAF (655969). Uninjured.
Lawrence Wood completed his pilot training going down the Bomber Command route. He received a commission on 12th November 1941 to the rank
of P/O on probation (47485). He was later promoted to F/O on probation on 1st October 1942 and F/Lt (war subs) on 12th November 1943. For service
with 10 Squadron he was awarded the DFC, Gazetted on 21st September 1945.
This Tiger Moth was built by The De Havilland Aircraft Co. Ltd. at Hatfield and was registered on the civilian register as G-ADWJ to Scottish
Aviation Ltd. at Prestwick on 9th December 1935 who operated it at Prestwick under the guise of 12 E&RFTS from 17th February 1936. On 3rd September
1939 this unit was re-designated 12 EFTS. On 12th October 1940 it was impressed into RAF service as BB803 and 24th March 1941 it was transferred
to 20 EFTS based at Yeadon. As a result of the mishap on 8th August 1941 Cat.B/FA damage was recorded and the aircraft was transported to Lundy &
Atlantic Coast Air Lines Ltd. at Dunstable for repair. On 9th September 1941 it was taken on charge by 9 EFTS at Ansty and remained with them until
being flown in to long term storage with 38 MU at Llandow on 29th March 1944. It appears to have remained in store until 25th January 1950 when it
was sold to the Defford Flying Club but the civilian registration was not initially restored as it was intended use as spares for G-AMBD and G-AMFN.
Forty years later on 25th March 1991 the airframe was purchased by C.R. Hardiman at Shobdon and the registration G-ADWJ was restored. On 17th July
1997 it was sold to C.Adams at Kingstone, Hereford, on 28th May 2009 it was sold to K.F.Crumplin at Wells, Somerset and operated from Henstridge
airfield. As of February 2014 the aircraft is airworthy and a happy ending to what could quite easily have been scrapped aircraft.