Oxford V4025 near Catfoss airfield.
On 28th May 1942 this No.15 (Pilot) Advanced Flying Unit aircraft was being flown on a night training flight involving homing beacons. While in the air suspected enemy activity in the area saw all the flare path lighting at Catfoss airfield be put out, but similar lighting at nearby Leconfield airfield was kept on. The pilot of this Oxford lost his position and initially circled the "Q" site at Catfoss for some time before he then began circling Catfoss airfield. While doing this a flarepath at Catfoss was switched on for him but the aircraft lost height in a strong wind and crashed some distance away from the airfield in the undershoot area at 01.05hrs. Unfortunately the pilot was not strapped in and he sustained injuries.
Pilot - Sgt Frank Wortley Pinkerton RAFVR 1028921).
On 29th March 1943 Frank Pinkerton was flying Lancaster W4858 with 12 Squadron when the aircraft was damaged by flak on Ops to Bremen. Badly damaged and loosing fuel and height the crew eventually baled out. He managed to evade capture. Post-war he became a civilian pilot but was later killed flying Douglas DC-3 G-AHCY on 19th August 1949 on Saddleworth Moor, in the Pennines.