Tiger Moth N6540 at Haworth.
On 31st October 1941 the pilot of this 20 E.F.T.S. aircraft was flying solo when he made a "precautionary" landing at Flappit near Haworth but overshot and hit a wall.
The aircraft sustained damage to port main plane and airscrew. The pilot was not injured.
Pilot - LAC Walter McAdam RAFVR (1366072).
The National Archives list an AVIA record of an accident report for an incident in June 1940 to this aircraft but as yet no details of what and where
this incident was are known.
Walter McAdam received a commission on 8th May 1942 (127820) to the rank of P/O on probation. He rose through the ranks and survived the War, he was
made F/O on 8th November 1942 and to F/Lt on 8th May 1944. As S/Ldr (although possibly infact as Acting S/Ldr as there is no mention in the London Gazette as
him being granted the S/Ldr rank) he was awarded the United States of America's "Bronze Star Medal" on 30th October 1945 for "valuable services rendered in
connection with the war".
Tiger Moth N6540 was built to contract 778402/38 by The De Havilland Aircraft Co. Ltd. at Hatfield and was awaiting collection in December 1938. In early
1939 it was taken on charge by 20 E&RFTS at Gravesend and was operated by Airports Ltd. 20 E&RFTS disbanded on 3rd September 1939 and reformed on the same day
as 14 EFTS at Castle Bromwich with the aircraft being ferried there. On 9th September 1939 it moved with the unit to Elmdon and believed to have been in early
1941 it transferred to 20 EFTS at Yeadon. As a result of the incident at Haworth on 31st January 1941 Cat.B/FA damage was the assessment, from there it was taken
away by road and was repaired in works. On completion of repair it was taken on charge by 1AACU whose HQ was at Farnborough. (The Flight within 1 AACU is not stated
in the aircraft's published history). On 1st October 1942 1 AACU disbanded so on 1sy November 1942 it was taken on charge by 1612 AAC Flight at Langham. On 8th December
1942 it moved with the unit to Bircham Newton but on 1st December 1943 1612 AAC Flt, disbanded to form 695 Squadron at Bircham Newton. In 1944 the aircraft was
transferred to 567 Squadron at Detling then on 14th November 1944 it moved with this unit to Hornchurch. On 9th February 1945 it suffered a flying accident when
it crashed on take off from a forced landing at New Road, Rotherfield, Sussex. The damage was assessed and Cat.E2/FA recorded and the aircraft was written off.