Blenheim V6008 near Ryther.
In the early morning of 23rd April 1942 the pilot of this aircraft was to undertake a training flight with No.54 Operational Training Unit. Shortly after taking off from Church Fenton airfield it flew into the ground near Ryther at 03.45hrs and in a direct line with the end of the runway. The pilot was killed in the crash. The aircraft disintergrated and the wreckage was spread over a wide area near to the River Ouse. The wreckage was searched to attempt to work out what had happened and while it was not totally proven to have been the reason for the crash, the fuel cock that supplied fuel to the port engine was found to be set to receiving fuel from the outer fuel tank. At the time, this training unit did not put fuel into the outer tanks. It was felt that some fuel would seep into this tank from the other tanks and could have been enough to fuel the port engine to allow it to take off but this would soon run dry causing the port engine to then fail.
Pilot - Sgt Joseph Coward RAFVR (1019175), aged 21. Buried Hartlepool West View Cemetery, Durham.
Joseph Coward was born on 14th May 1920 at Hartlepool, Durham and was the son of Joseph James and Mary (nee Brickman) Coward.
Blenheim V6008 was built to contract 1485/39 by Rootes Securities Ltd. at Blythe Bridge and was awaiting collection in February 1941. It was first taken on charge by 17 OTU at Upwood on an unknown date and was then transferred to 54 OTU at Church Fenton on another unknown date. 17 OTU was a light bomber OTU where-as 54 OTU was a night fighter OTU, so at some point the aircraft was probably converted from a bomber to night fighter variant. As a result of the crash at Church Fenton on 23rd April 1942 Cat.E2/FA damage was the assessment and it was struck off charge.