Just prior to this incident the aircraft was having repairs carried out at the Vickers Armstrong repair facility at Sywell airfield and had arrived at 12 M.U. at Kirkbride airfield on 17th February 1942. On 23rd February 1942 this aircraft was being flown from 12 M.U. at Kirkbride airfield to another airfield, possibly to join an O.T.U. further south in England. It was flown by an ATA pilot from No.6 Ferry Pilot Pool, from Ratcliffe, Leicestershire. During the flight it ran out of fuel in transit over the Skipton area. The pilot force-landed the aircraft at 16.00hrs on high ground to the north of Grassington near High Garnshaw House with the wheels down and it would appear that it received little if any damage. This ATA pilot had his contract with the ATA terminated just days after this incident so one can perhaps read into this that he was held totally responsible for it not being refuelled prior to the flight beginning.
Brian Lunn has recorded in his book on aircraft crashes in the Wharfedale area that to enable the aircraft to be flown out some rocks in the fields were removed. The aircraft was refuelled and another pilot flew the aircraft out. No damage is given on the aircraft's AM Form 78 which would tend to agree with the local accounts stating that the aircraft was flown out.
Pilot (on landing) - F/O Raymond Hoover ATA (M.345).
Raymond Hoover was born on 17th February 1917 at Chambersburh, Pennsylvania, USA. He had been a civilian flying instructor in the USA. He arrived in the UK on 19th March 1941 and joined the ATA. He went to No.1 FPP on 17th May 1941 then to No.6 FPP on 26th May 1941. While ferrying he was involved in two mishaps, one to Spitfire AD364 on 6th October 1941 when it hit a post on landing and another to Beaufighter T4797 on 10th October 1941 when it landed on partially flooded runway. His ATA contract was terminated on 3rd March 1942.
Wellington L7854 was built to contract 692236/37 by Vickers Armstrong's Ltd. at Chester (Hawarden) and was awaiting collection in June 1940. After preparation for operational flight at MU it was taken on charge by 38 Squadron at Marham on 13th September 1940 with whom it flew until just before this unit were transferred to the Middle East on 12th November 1940. On 7th November 1940 it was transferred to 115 Squadron at Marham. On 22nd September 1941 it required a repair on site by a team from Vickers, possibly damage located during a routine service or maintenance. It was returned to 115 Squadron on 25th October 1941. On 20th November 1941 it received a Cat.B damage assessment that required it being taken from a repair in the Vickers facility at Sywell. Once servicable again on 10th February 1942 it AM Form 78 states that it was R.A.A.A. (repaired and awaiting allocation). The aircraft was flown from Sywell to 12 M.U. at Kirkbride on 17th February 1942. It must have been flown back to 12 MU at Kirkbride after the forced landing at Grassington as it did not get a transfer anywhere else. It was later taken on charge by 29 O.T.U. at North Luffenham on 23rd May 1942. It sustained Cat.B/FA damage in a flying accident on 6th August 1942 that saw it transported away for a repair in works. On 29th May 1943 it was transferred to the recently formed 105 (Transport) O.T.U. at Bramcote. On 25th August 1943 it received damage in another flying accident that saw Cat.B/FA damage again been the damage assessment. It was sent for repair at Sywell. On 31st December 1943 it was flown to 48 M.U. at Hawarden and was placed in store. On 8th May 1944 it was sent for a repair in works at Doncaster with some form of damage. This damage was re-assessed at Doncaster on 20th July 1944 and it was Re-Cat.E. On 14th August 1944 the aircraft was struck off charge.
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