Beaufighter T3300 near Seaton, Hornsea.
On 26th July 1941 this No.2 (Coastal) Operational Training Unit aircraft failed to climb after taking off from Catfoss airfield at night, it flew into trees near Seaton and crashed onto the crest of an area of slightly rising ground soon afterwards. The crew of two were sadly killed.
Pilot - Sgt Gordon Kenneth Wood RAFVR (996849), aged 24, of Stonehaven, Kincardineshire. Buried Brandesburton Churchyard, Yorkshire.
Wireless Operator / Air Gunner - Sgt Gordon Thomas Yates RAFVR (970523), aged 21, of Eccleston Park, St.Helens, Lancashire. Buried Eccleston Churchyard, Lancashire.
The graves of the two crew killed in this incident.
Air historians Albert Pritchard, Eric Barton and Ken Reast with East Yorkshire local aviation expert Rodney Robinson located small fragments on the surface near Arram Hall at the crash site in 2000 with permission from the landowner, confirming the crash location. The photograph above shows fragments of this aeroplane that were retained by Eric following his visit to the site.
Beaufighter T3300 was built to contract B.30264/39 by The Bristol Aeroplane Co. Ltd. at Filton and was awaiting collection in March 1941. It was taken
on charge by 2 (C)O.T.U. at Catfoss in June 1941 and was destroyed as a result of the accident on 26th July 1941 with Cat.E2/FA being the damage assessment.
My thanks to "www.sthelensrollsofhonour.co.uk" for copying the text from an earlier version of this webpage onto their site without adding a credit to me.
By return of thanks I have added the photograph of Sgt Yates' gravestone shown on their website and supplied by Jeff Keenan but with this credit.