Oxford V3912 at Leconfield airfield.
On Monday, 9th March 1942 the trainee pilot of this aircraft had carried out a cross country training flight with the route flown taking in turning points of York, Piercebridge and Knaresborough before returning to Leconfield to land. Having taken off at 15.10hrs this aircraft was coming in to land at 16.40hrs and had made a circuit of the airfield graducally reducing height to eventually land. At the same time as this aircraft was coming in to land the pilot of Oxford V3957 was undertaking a practice precautionary landing on the same runway. Witnesses on the ground later stated that they could see both aircraft flying almost directly on top of each other and on a converging course. They then collided at around 15 feet above the ground and both aircraft crashed onto the airfield at 16.40hrs and skidded to a halt next to each other. It was later believed that neither pilots had seen the other aircraft as the other aircraft was in the blind spot of the other aircraft's pilot. The crew of this aircraft survived though the pilot of the other Oxford died of his injuries.
Trainee Pilot - Sgt Charles Oliver Alfred Lawrence RAFVR (1271045). Minor injuries.
Insructor - P/O Gordon Alexander Park. Minor injuries.
Charles Lawrence completed his training and was posted to 12 Squadron. For service with them he was awarded the DFM, Gazetted on 15th June 1943. The citation for his award reads..
"One night in April 1943, this airman was the captain and pilot of an aircraft engaged on an operation. During the flight the bomber was raked by gun fire from an enemy fighter which badly wounded the rear and mid-upper gunners. Flight Sergeant Lawrence dived steeply to evade the attacker and, when levelling out, the port aileron broke off. The aircraft, which had sustained damage, became difficult to control but, in spite of this, Flight Sergeant Lawrence displayed great skill and determination in accomplishing the return flight to this country where he effected a masterly landing at the nearest airfield." By the time the notification of his DFM had been printed in the London Gazette he had already received a commission to the rank of P/O on probation on 26th April 1943 (145504). He was later promoted to F/O on 26th October 1943 and F/Lt on 26th April 1945. He resigned his commission on 10th June 1947. He may also have been the same person as awarded the Queen's Police Medal for Distinguished Service in the New Year's Honours List 1959, as Assistant Superintendent of Police; of the Kenya Police Force.
Oxford V3912 was built to contract B.55347/39 by the Standard Motor Co. Ltd. at Canley and was awaiting collection in April 1941. After a brief period of MU storage it was taken on charge by 15 SFTS at Kidlington on 11th May 1941. On 4th February 1942 the unit began moving to Leconfield and was re-designated as 15 (P)AFU on 1st March 1942. As a result of the crash at Leconfield on 9th March 1942 Cat.E2/FA damage was recorded and the aircraft was written off.