Blenheim T2228 near Huggate.
On 8th September 1941 the pilot of this 54 O.T.U. aircraft was undertaking a night training flight involving a homing exercise. The aircraft would have been flying at around 6,000 feet prior to the accident and being transmitted radio signals for the pilot to steer towards to simulate being directed onto enemy aircraft. The weather was not brilliant on this night, 7/10ths cloud was present and it was thought that the pilot was attempting to descend through the cloud when he became totally disorientated. In poor visibility the aircraft dived vertically into high ground at full power near Huggate at 01.32hrs. The aircraft exploded and sadly the pilot was clearly killed as a result of this accident, believed to have been near Mill Farm. In the crash investigation adds a final interesting comment from the highly experienced commanding officer of 54 OTU, he stated that it appeared to him that the pilot was not in control of the aircraft prior to the crash, suspecting he had either fainted, was asleep or was dead (shot by H.A. (heavy artillery?)). There was however no evidence for this.
Pilot - Sgt Cedric Warren Woolgar RAFVR (1021123), aged 30, of Worthing, Sussex. Buried Kirkby Wharfe Cemetery, Yorkshire.
Cedric Woolgar was born on 10th January 1911 is Worthing, Sussex. He attended Kings College London and Birmingham University gaining a BSc there and was working in the petroleum industry as a chemical engineer prior to enlisting into the RAFVR. At the time of his death his wife lived near Wrexham. He is commemorated on Birmingham University War Memorial.
Blenheim T2228 was built to contract 1485/39 by Rootes Securities Ltd. at their Speke factory and was awaiting collection in September 1940. After a short
period of storage it was taken on charge by 8 AACU who had their headquarters at Pengam Moors (RAF Cardiff) where it served until being transferred to 54 OTU
at Church Fenton. As a result of the accident at Huggate on 8th September 1941 Cat.E2/FA Burnt damage was recorded and the aircraft written off.