Oxford BF973 near Leconfield airfield.

During the evening of 12th October 1942 this No.15 (Pilot) Advanced Flying Unit aircraft was flown on a dual instructional training flight. It took off from Leconfield at 19.50hrs with a pupil and an instructor on board. The aircraft took off normally and made a circuit of the airfield. The pilot asked for permission to land, which was then granted but at that stage the aircraft was seen to be too far from the airfield. The aircraft turned into the wind to make a landing approach but was too low, it lost height and struck trees at around 20.00hrs. The aircraft crashed near High Grange Farm, Aike, a mile away from and on line with the SW-NE runway at Leconfield.

Pilot (Instructor) - P/O Peter Rubert Mellor RAFVR (122222). Injured.

Pilot (Pupil) - Sgt Kevin John Kenyon RAAF (414117). Injured.

Oxford BF973 was built to contract B.128581/40 by Airspeed Ltd. at Portsmouth and was awaiting collection in December 1941. It was then placed into long term MU storage until 24th September 1942 when it was taken on charge by 15 (P)AFU at Leconfield. As a result of the crash on 12th October 1942 the damage was assessed as being Cat.E2/FA and it was written off.

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