Lysander V9403 on Slate Pit Moss, Peak District.
On 19th August 1941 the crew of this aircraft were to fly from Ringway to Rhyll but the pilot followed the wrong compass baring. The aircraft flew
180 degrees the wrong direction and in poor visibility crashed into high ground towards the northern end of the Peak District near Chew Reservoir.
It was later found the aircraft compass had not been used for some weeks and was faulty. This crash site is now not in Yorkshire but is believed to
have been inside the county before the boundary changes in the 1970's. Further details of this loss are to be found on Alan Clark's Peak District
air-accident website and I included the loss on this webpage for completion of the record.
Pilot - P/O Frederick William Hoddinott RAF (45900). Injured,
Wireless Operator - LAC Allan Masheder Chadwick RAFVR (976123), aged 22, of Bebington. Died of injuries on 24th August 1941. Buried Bebington Cemetery, Cheshire.
F/Lt Hoddinott relinquished his commission on 20th October 1948 on the grounds of being medically un-fit but remained in the Reserve of Officers until October 1959.
Lysander V9403 was built to contract B.54504/39 by The Westland Aircraft Co. Ltd. at Yeovil and was awaiting collection by the end of May 1941 to be
taken on charge by 6 AACU at Ringway later the following month. As a result of the crash on 19th August 1941 Cat.E2/FA damage was recorded.