Tiger Moth T7697 at Snaith airfield.
At 14.00hrs on 13th July 1941 this aircraft was being inspected prior to a flight by a member of 150 Squadron's groundcrew. He was attempting to test the part of the aircraft's engine electrical system when unfortunately by turning the propeller it then caused the engine to start and rotate the propeller at running speed. This struck the mechanic on the head and killed him instantly. As the engine was then running it careered around the hanger with no one in the cockpit.
No Pilot.
150 Squadron groundcrew Flight Mechanic - LAC Sydney Herbert Smith RAFVR (912563), aged 29. Buried Brighton City Cemetery, Sussex.
Tiger Moth T7697 served all its days with Snaith Station Flight. It was awaiting collection in January 1941 and appears to have remained at Snaith until the airfield closed, afterwhich it was flown into MU storage before being struck off charge on 19th December 1949. The damage sustained in July 1941 is not listed in it's published history and was probably minor Cat.A resulting in a repair on site.