Blenheim L6611 at Church Fenton airfield.
On 12th April 1941 this trainee pilot misjudged his height whilst coming in to land at Church Fenton following a training flight with 54 OTU. The flight involved single engine flying, during the approach to land the port engine offered full power but the starboard engine then picked up again so after flying a normal circuit of the airfield he lowered the undercarriage and the flaps ready to land. After then lining up to make a landing and descending in height the port engine then failed, being at low speed and after allowing the port wing to drop the aircraft turned towards the ground and crashed in the undershoot area at 06.50hrs. It sustained damage to the nose and the tail section and both engines broke off. The pilot suffered injury to an elbow and leg. The Church Fenton airfield Station ORB states an aircraft crashed at Ryther on this date and would suggest the entry related to this incident suggesting the aircraft
crashed on the Ryther side of the airfield.
Pilot - Sgt Donald Stuart Eggleton-Morley (924964). Injured.
Donald Eggleton-Morley recovered from his injuries and received a commission on 23rd November 1944 (186831) to the rank of Acting P/O on probation.
He was graded as P/O on Probation on 18th January 1945, and then rose to F/O on 18th July 1945. After the crash at Church Fenton in April 1941 it was recommended that he be re-trained on single engined aircraft.
Blenheim L6611 was built to contract 588371/36 by A.V. Roe & Co. Ltd. at Chadderton and was awaiting collection in September 1938 and after a four
month period of MU storage it was taken on charge by 604 Squadron at Hendon in January 1939 who were in the process of converting from Hawker
Demons to Blenheims. On 2nd September 1939 it moved with this unit to North Weald the on 16th January 1940 to Northolt. In March 1940 L6611 was
allocated for conversion to a bomber variant but appears to have escaped conversion and was taken on charge by 23 Squadron at Wittering instead
in early 1940. On 31st May 1940 it moved with this unit to Collyweston then to Ford on 12th September 1940. Towards the end of November 1940 it
was taken on charge by the newly formed 54 OTU at Church Fenton. It was badly damaged as a result of the landing accident detailed above and
Cat.E/FA damage was recorded after assessment.