Blenheim K7090 near Ulleskelf, Tadcaster.
On 18th July 1941 the pilot of this 54 O.T.U. aircraft was carrying out a night time solo training exercise in cloud conditions. The pilots in the air on this night
were orbiting beacons. This pilot was inexperienced on solo flying and was infact on his first solo flight in the Blenheim. Because of suspected enemy aircraft
in the area all the lighting at Church Fenton airfield was switched off without anyone realising that this pilot was very inexperienced on flying on instruments,
at the same time the pilot was entering a diving turn around one of the beacons when the aircraft flew into the ground near Ulleskelf, around a mile and a half
from the airfield. Sadly he was killed in the resulting crash. There were two other accidents on the same night, both on higher ground on the North Yorkshire
Moors. All three accidents were partly blamed on failures of a member of the controlling staff at Church Fenton for vectoring the other two over high ground
and for not taking this pilot's lack of experience into account. The controller was later transferred to different duties at another airfield. The photograph
above shows Blenheim K7090 in it's early life with 25 Squadron.
Pilot - Sgt Cyril John Neighbour RNZAF (402238), aged 24, of Te Kuiti, Auckland, New Zealand. Buried Kirkby Wharfe Cemetery, Yorkshire.
Sgt Neighbour and his grave at Kirkby Wharfe. He was the son of Thomas and Ethel Neighbour of Mokau, Taranaki, New Zealand and the husband of Inger Mena Neighbour of Te Kuiti, Auckland. His photograph was found on "http://muse.aucklandmuseum.com".
The accident database on public display in the Yorkshire Air Museum mixes up the pilots of K7090 and L8729 (crediting Neighbour as being in L8729 and McMurtrie in K7090).
Having viewed copies of the Form AM1180 reports and AIR81 casualty files for both aircraft I can confirm the correct pilot / aircraft as it is shown on this website.
Blenheim K7090 was built to contract 43506/35 by The Bristol Aeroplane Co. Ltd. at Filton as a bomber version and was awaiting collection in June 1937. After
a lengthy period of MU storage it was taken on charge by 144 Squadron on 16th October 1937 and flown to their airfield at Hemswell. On 9th April 1938 it moved with
the unit to North Coates then on 7th May 1938 back to Hemswell with the unit. On 20th April 1939 it was flown to 6 MU at Brize Norton where conversion to MkIf status
took place. On 16th December 1939 it was taken on charge by 248 Squadron at Hendon, on 22nd February 1940 it was transferred to 25 Squadron at North Weald and on
16th June 1940 it moved with the unit to Martlesham Heath the on 1st September 1940 with the unit to North Weald. On 29th October 1940 it undershot on landing
a hit trees at Bodney but minor Cat.A/FA damage was as bad as it was assessed and was repaired on site. On 22nd November 1940 it passed to the care of 55 OTU
at Aston Down but this unit ceased operating Blenheims soon after so on 21st December 1940 it was transferred to 54 OTU at Church Fenton. As a result of the
accident on 18th July 1941 Cat.E2/FA damage was recorded and the aircraft was struck off charge.