At 15.00hrs on 13th August 1942 this 1484 Bombing and Gunnery Flight aircraft took off from Driffield airfield with an experienced pilot and a trainee air gunner on board. It was being flown so that the air gunner could undertake an air to air firing exercise over the gunnery range off Withernsea. At the same time two drogue towing Lysanders took off from Driffield with one due to act as the drogue tow for Defiant L6981. All the aircraft began to set course for the Withersea area. The two Lysanders were flying at roughly 800 feet with one around half a mile ahead of the second. While flying roughly over Hutton Cranswick the Defiant was seen to approach both Lysanders and then climb toward the lead aircraft, probably to check the aircraft's code so that he knew which aircraft he was due to undertake the air gunnery training with. As the lead Lysander was not the correct aircraft it was then assumed that the pilot of the Defiant made a steep turn to change course to follow the second Lysander but the flying speed dropped off, the aircraft stalled and it spin into the ground in the region of Scurf Dyke Farm and Rotsea, to the east of Hutton Cranswick. The two airmen died in the accident.
Pilot - F/Sgt Derek Rowland Lord RAFVR (1169117), aged 20, of Burpham, Guildford. Buried Burpham Churchyard, Surrey.
Air Gunner - Sgt Arthur Owen Potts RAFVR (1057542), aged 20, of Hull. Buried Anlaby Tranby Lane Cemetery, Hull, Yorkshire.
Defiant L6981 was built to contract 622849/37 by Boulton & Paul Ltd. at Wolverhampton and was awaiting collection in November 1939. After a short period of MU storage it was taken on charge by the Central Gunnery School at Warmwell in 1940. On 23rd June 1941 the aircraft moved with the C.G.S. to Castle Kennedy. On or around 14th November 1941 it was transferred to 1484 Target Towing Flight at Driffield when the unit formed. In January 1942 the unit was re-designated 1484 Target Towing and Gunnery Flight then in June 1942 it was again re-designated as 1484 Bombing and Gunnery Flight. As a result of the crash on 13th August 1942 Cat.E2/FA was the damage assessment and the aircraft was written off.
Derek Lord was born on 15th December 1921. He attended Woking Grammar School and became an accomplished sportsman, playing rugby for the National Public Schools XV. He enlisted into the RAFVR on 5th July 1940 and after training was posted to 102 Squadron. He flew his first operational flight on 26th August 1941. Having been posted away to instruct he flew on two thousand bomber raids in April 1942 but engine trouble meant early returns on both. He was later posted to 1484 Target Towing Flight / Bombing and Gunnery Flight probably as a staff pilot rather than to train.
Arthur Potts was born on 5th April 1922 and enlisted for RAF service on 3rd July 1940. He was buried in a family grave in Anlaby Cemetery, Hull.