Lysander V9606 near Burley in Wharfedale.
22nd March 1942 this aircraft took off from Clifton to fly to Hawarden earlier in the day but returned to Clifton soon after setting out because of poor weather. In the afternoon
the flight was attempted again but the aircraft suffered engine failure while in the Burley in Wharfedale area. The pilot force landed at 16.00hrs but the aircraft ran into
depression in the selected field and it overturned, the pilot sustained injuries but the aircraft was later repaired. The pilot cannot have sustained serious injury as he was
flying with 4 Squadron a couple of days later. The incident is listed in local Police records stating that it crashed 75 yards North of the River Wharfe.
Pilot - P/O David Eric Fairbairn RAAF (401427).
The internet yields plenty of information on this pilot. He later served with 79 Squadron and was awarded the DFC. Post-WW2 he returned to Australia and became an M.P. He was later Knighted in 1977.
Lysander V9606 was built to contract B.54504/39 by The Westland Aircraft Co. Ltd. at Yeovil and was awaiting collection in February 1941. It was taken on charge by 4 Squadron at Linton on Ouse in April 1941 who moved to Clifton on 27th August 1941 and took the aircraft with them. As a result of the forced landing near Burley in Wharfedale on 22nd March 1942 the damage was assessed and Cat.B/FA the result, it was then transported to Redwing Aircraft Ltd. at Wolverhampton by road for repair. On completion of repair and after MU preparation it was shipped to Madagascar and was then taken on charge by No.1433 Flight in October 1942. It later moved with the unit to Ivato, Madagascar on 17th January 1943 and with the unit to Maratsipoy, Madagascar the following month. On 15th April 1943 No.1433 Flight disbanded and aircraft placed in long term MU storage (probably overseas but the location is not known). It was struck off charge on 27th July 1944.