On 25th July 1942 this aircraft in the care of the ATA and was being flown to an unknown airfield to collect an un-named pilot. During the flight the engine failed so the pilot attempted to force-land the aircraft in a small field near Cockhill, Edlington, Doncaster at 15.30hrs but the landing was heavy and the undercarriage collapsed slightly damaging the aircraft. Cat.B damage was recorded on the aircraft and Cat.Ac damage on the engine following assessment. An investigation found the incorrect assembly of an air intake had caused the engine to fail, possibly resulting in the carburetter icing up.
Pilot - Captain Gerald Victor Cook ATA (M.183).
Argus HM170 was delivered in October 1941 and used throughout it's life by the ATA, being taken on charge by No.7 FPP on an unknown date. In its history there is no mention of any accident on 25th July 1942 suggesting the damage was minor and repaired locally. It was eventually struck off charge on 20th July 1944.
Of note is that an unknown aircraft is believed to have made a crash landing near the village of Wilsic near Edlington on the Yorkshire/Nottinghamshire border. The only known witness to this incident was a small boy at the time and he believes the aircraft to have been a German Me109 fighter aircraft, even producing a photograph of this aircraft in the field. Research suggests the Me109 in the photograph was not taken in Yorkshire but infact in Kent as it is identical to a second photograph of this Me109 but from a slightly different angle. This witnesses date for him seeing the "Me109" in the field also does not add up, he believes it to have been in mid-1942. The problem being is that the artwork on the Me109 shown was not used in 1942 and the markings were only used during the Battle of Britain (in 1940). The the greatest of respect I would suggest that the witness is mistaken about the aircraft type and I suggest that he had seen the Argus in the field. The two known photographs I show below to highlight the problem. The photograph of the confirmed Me109 in Kent is probably still under copyright but I do not know who to credit at present. If anyone reading this request is able to add further information please contact me using the email link on the titlepage of the website.
This is the photograph of the aircraft said to have crash landed at Wilsic, near Edlington.
This is the aircraft known to have crashed in Kent. The markings of both aircraft are identical and the white propeller spinner is a clue but perhaps the key to it not being a 1942 incident is the banding around the engine cowling, this was only used during the Battle of Britain. On the top photograph a mast is clearly visible, the lower photograph it is not so clear but the legs can be just made out between the second and third people from left on the right of the photograph.