Almost certainly during the daylight hours of 7th September 1942 this No.2 (Coastal) Operational Training Flight aircraft took off from Catfoss airfield with a pilot and also a seveteen year old ATC Cadet on board. The Cadet was being taken up in the Beaufighter for air experience. Roughly twenty minutes into the flight the starboard engine cut out and the pilot made a forced landing near Skipsea church, although the aircraft broke in two those on board escaped serious injury. Following an investigation it was found that the engine had cut out due to lack of fuel which the pilot had failed to notice before taking off. Of note is that the aircraft was said to carry a desert colour scheme from it's former unit before being allotted to Coast Command training in the UK.
Pilot - Sgt Roy Thomas Baldwin RAFVR (1283204). Injured.
Passenger - Cadet William F Sheldrick ATC (Cadet.98). Injured.
Roy Baldwin was born on 2nd January 1922 at Croydon, Surrey and enlisted for RAF service on 3rd August 1940. He was later posted to 248 Squadron and reported as missing on 26th November 1942 flying Beaufighter EL263. He was twenty years old and is commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial. His parents lived at Sanderstead, Surrey.
The Cadet later went on to serve with the Fleet Air Arm.
Beaufighter T3315 was built to contract B.39264/39 by The Bristol Aeroplane Co. Ltd. at Filton. There are a few gaps and details missing with regards the history of the aircraft. It must have been complete and awaiting collection by May 1941. It appears to have been issued to 272 Squadron in early May 1941 just prior to the squadron making long transit ferry flights out to Egypt, possibly as part of the O.A.D.U. (based at Kemble). 272 Squadron were initially based at Abu Sueir from 28th May 1941 to 14th June 1941 and then made it's home at Idku until 9th November 1941 although various detachments were based on Malta and Cyprus for short periods. The squadron were also based at Geralwa (LG.10) from 12th January 1942 to 14th March 1942 and then moved back to Idku. On an unknown date in 1942 it was ferried back to the UK and joined 2 (c)O.T.U. at Catfoss. As a result of the crash landing at Skipsea on 7th September 1942 Cat.E2/FA damage was the damage assessment and it was written off.
The published Air Britain history suggests it was issused to 272 Squadron much later, in August 1941 having been in MU store for a few months.
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