Blenheim Z5955 at Catfoss airfield.
On 17th August 1941 this 2 (C)OTU aircraft stalled on take off from Catfoss at night, hit a tree and cartwheeled into the ground near Hall Farm, sadly the
trainee pilot was killed in the crash.
Pilot - Sgt Charles Figsby Colville Steele RAAF (400496), aged 20, of Leslie Manor, Victoria, Australia. Buried Brandesburton Churchyard, Yorkshire.
Charles Steele was born on 5th February 1921 in Melbourne and enlisted into the RAAF there in 1940. Following his death he was also commemorated
on a family gravestone in the small churchyard of St. Nicholas, near Orphir on Orkney.
I thank Mr Derek Mayes for these photographs of the gravestone on Orkney. The year on this grave should of course read 1941 not 1942.
Blenheim Z5955 was built to contract B.119994/40 by A.V. Roe & Co. Ltd. at Chadderton and was awaiting collection in October 1940. It was taken
on charge by 248 Squadron at Sumburgh before the end of the year and moved to Dyce with the unit on 6th January 1941. 248 Squadron ceased operating
Blenheim IVf's in July 1941 so the aircraft was immediately transferred to 2(C)OTU at Catfoss. As a result of the incident on 17th August 1941
Cat.E2/FA damage was recorded.