Oxford ED138 at Elvington airfield.

During the morning of 21st November 1942 this No.1484 (Bombing) Gunnery Flight aircraft was cleared to be flown on a map reading exercise and because the route took the aircraft over Elvington, the pilot was cleared to land there to collect some personal belongings. Once in the landing circuit at Elvington the pilot made an approach to land but noticed two red Verey flares being fired indicating that he was not to land. The pilot continue to fly in the landing circuit. A short time later he noticed white lights placed next to the cross wind runway and took this be a signal that it was safe to land there. At 11.29hrs landed but owing to the crosswind it began to enter a swing to starboard. The pilot regained control and the aircraft continued in a straight line for a short distance before it again began to swing to starboard. It left the runway and then ran onto a patch of soft ground. This caused the wheels to sink into the ground and the aircraft overturned. The four occupants all sustained injuries.

Pilot - F/Sgt Richard Lewis Evans RAF (655065). Injured.

Bomb Aimer - Sgt Geoffrey Alsop Tew RAFVR (1065234). Injured.

Bomb Aimer - Sgt Thomas Walter Pragnell RAFVR (1219197). Injured.

Bomb Aimer - P/O Anthony Metcalf RAFVR (125424). Injured.

Geoffrey Tew was discharged from the RAF in February 1943 and transferred to the Army
Oxford ED138 was built to contract B.67831/40 by Percival Aircraft Ltd. at Luton and was awaiting collection in May 1942 but was immediately placed in MU store. On 18th July 1942 it was taken on charge by 1484 (Bombing) Gunnery Flight at Driffield and as a result of the mishap at Elvington on 21st November 1942 Cat.B/FA damage was the initial assessment. It was then re-assessed as being the lesser Re-Cat.A(c)/FA and was repaired on site. After the repair was complete it returned to MU store on 4th February 1943. On 7th January 1944 it was taken on charge by 11 (P)AFU at Shawbury and moved to Calverley with them on 1st February 1944. On 19th November 1944 it struck a telegraph pole whilst low flying at Tatton Hall, Cheshire and crashed, following this accident Cat.E2/FA damage was the result of assessment and it was written off.

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