Halifax R9425 near Newton on Ouse.
On 16th April 1942 those on board this 35 Conversion Flight aircraft were undertaking a training flight to practice three-engine overshoots around the Linton on Ouse area, after a couple overshoots on three engines the Halifax climbed away only for undercarriage and flaps to fail to retract, not ideal when trying to climb away with only three engines. At this stage the aircraft was still very low and the instructor attempted to start the forth engine but this would not re-start. Because the speed of the aircraft was very low and with only three engines and flaps down the pilot was left with little option but to force-land the aircraft just off the airfield near Newton on Ouse at just after 17.00hrs. The aircraft was badly damaged after it clipped trees just north of the village and it narrowly missed the village hall. One member of the crew was slightly injured.
Instructor Pilot - S/Ldr Eric George Franklin DFC RAFVR (79534).
Trainee Pilot - P/O Henry Rupert Astbury RAFVR (60136).
Three crew - Names unknown, one slightly injured.
Halifax R9425 was built to contract 692649/37 by Handley Page Ltd. at Radlett and was awaiting collection on 12th January 1942. It was taken on charge by 35 Squadron at Linton on Ouse on 27th January 1942. On 22nd March 1942 it was transferred to 35 Conversion Flight at Linton on Ouse. As a result of the crash on 16th April 1942 Cat.B/FA damage was the initial damage assessment but it was then further assessed on 24th April 1942 as being beyond repair, was Re-Cat.E and was struck off charge.
Eric Franklin was probably born in the Sleaford area of Lincolnshire in 1918. His first role in aviation was working as an apprentice to Armstrong Whitworth in 1937. In May 1939 he
qualified for Royal Aero Club Certificate in the Leamington, Warwick and District Aero Club. In 1939 he joined the RAFVR and learned to fly in military aircraft, and on outbreak of War he was called up and posted for Bomber Command duties. He received a commission to P/O on probation on 19th May 1940 and rose to F/O exactly a year. Having trained at 10 OTU at Abingdon and 19 OTU at Kinloss he was posted to 78 Squadron flying Whitleys. He was later posted to 35 Squadron and as Acting F/Lt he was awarded the DFC for service with 35 Squadron, Gazetted on 22nd August 1941. He was then posted for instructional duties at the Halifax Conversion Flights based at Linton-on-Ouse, Leconfield and Marston Moor, a role he undertook until mid-1942. He was promoted to F/Lt (war subs) on 19th May 1942. He was awarded the AFC as Acting S/Ldr on 1st January 1943. He then began a test pilot role, his first test pilot job was at Handley Page as a Halifax production pilot but in 1943 he was posted back to 35 Squadron as Flight Commander as part of the Pathfinder Force. Before the War ended he was back as a test pilot with Armstrong Whitworth and flew in the AW52G glider and production tested Lancasters and Lincolns. In 1947 he was apponted senior test pilot and on 13th November 1947 he was the first to fly the unusual AW52 aircraft. In 1948 he was appointed the company's Chief Test Pilot and continued in that role until 1965 where he was flying various aircraft produced at Baginton including several Meteor models including the prone pilot version, Sea Hawks, Hunters and Javelins. On the 10th April 1949 he captained the Apollo turboprop airliners in it's maiden flight. On 31st May 1950 he flew the prototype Meteor NF11 on it's first flight and later in 1959 captained the Argosy on its maiden flight. In 1965 Baginton closed and he moved to Hawker Siddeley Aviation in Manchseter and undertook development and production tests of the Avro Shakleton and Nimrod. He retired from test flying in in late 1975 with Hawker Siddeley Aviation, having flown 9000 hours in 100 types of aircraft over 30 years. He was also granted an OBE (on an unknown date).
P/O Astbury flew as second pilot with P/O Valters in 35 Squadron on 30th March 1942 to attack the Tirpitz but must have been converting to flying the Halifax at the time for him to be at 35 Conversion Flight two weeks later. He was commissioned in 19th January 1941 to P/O on probation and as F/O he transferred to the Admin and Special Duties Branch on 13th January 1943 rising to F/Lt (temp) on 1st July 1944.