On 25th August 1942 the pilot of this 122 Squadron aircraft was undertaking a cross country navigation training flight when he became lost. When the aircraft ran low on fuel he force landed in a field near Parkin's Farm on Gadding Moor, near Cawthorne, Barnsley without sustaining damage. Later in the day, at 12.30hrs, the aircraft struck what is listed as simply "an obstruction" while taking off from the field where it had previously force landed and was badly damaged. At first glance a Magister aircraft that was based at Hornchurch force landing in Yorkshire does seem to be not correct but the Magister type did have the fuel range to get from Hornchurch to the Barnsley area.
Pilot - P/O Raymond Van de Poel (Belgium) RAFVR (100999).
Passenger - F/O Fage (station adjt).
Raymond Van de Poel is shown on this superb photograph of 122 Squadron aircrew, he is fourth from the right seated on the wing. He was born in Brussels in August 1915 and was serving in the Belgian forces before 1939 and was evacuated to France. He later escaped to the UK and was granted a commission in the RAFVR in 1941 and flew with 122 Squadron in the 1942. He was posted to 350 Squadron later in 1942. On 11th July 1943 he and another pilot were returning from a training flight, he was flying Spitfire EN680 when he collided with Spitfire BM399 on approach to land at Ouston. Both aircraft crashed and both pilots were killed. He is buried in Brookwood Military Cemetery, Surrey. He was awarded the Belgian Officer’s Cross in the Order of Leopold with Palm, Belgian Croix de Guerre 1940 with Palm, and the Croix des Evadés.
F/O Fage is also shown on the photograph above, on the front row fifth from the right.
Magister N3835 was built to contract 778435/38 by Miles Aircraft Ltd. at Woodley and was delivered to the RAF on 22nd November 1938, it was initially received by 4 MU at Waddington. On 16th February 1939 it transferred to 5 MU at Kemble and was placed into store. On 10th October 1940 it was taken on charge by the Station Flight at Speke. On 13th February 1942 it transferred to Woodvale Station Flight but just days later on 28th February 1942 it was flown to 32 MU at St.Athan for unknown reasons. On 25th April 1942 it was taken on charge by 122 Squadron at Hornchurch then over the coming weeks with then as they moved around to various airfields. On 8th June 1942 to Fairlop, on 29th June 1942 to Martlesham Heath, on 6th July 1942 back to Fairlop and on 17th July 1942 with the squadron to Hornchurch. As a result of the damage sustained near Barnsley on 25th August 1942 the damage was assessed as being Cat.E2/FA and it was written off.