Dominie Z7263 near Doncaster airfield.
This aircraft was No.4 Group's communications aircraft and those on board had been visiting Doncaster airfield on 11th April 1942. Doncaster was used by an Army Co-Operation
unit. The aircraft had been used to carry Army officers by air to view river sites to undertake practice bridging operations. When it came to taking off from Doncaster to return to Clifton the aircraft stalled at 500 feet and hit trees on the north-eastern boundary and crashed on a road in the Bessacarr area at 15.57hrs. Sadly the three crew
on board died and a disabled young lady being pushed along the road in a "bath-chair" was struck by the wreckage and was seriously injured. Another female pushing the first was also injured. Two fifteen year old boys, Frank Bywater and Joseph Devine, witnessed the accident and successed in entering the burning wreckage to drag the young lady clear but she sadly died in Doncaster hospital on 1st May 1942.
Z7263 had previously been a civilian registered aircraft, carrying the G-ADIM registration prior to being impressed into the RAF. It was one of a group of fourteen Rapides
impressed in July 1940 and was sent to Airwork Ltd under contract A34983/39 for conversion to military status. It was registered to Airwork Ltd at Heston on 28th August 1937
and it's civilian registration was cancelled on 15th July 1940. Of the other Rapides impressed many saw service as flying ambulances, one of which would crash into Scafell Pike
in the Lake District with the loss of all those on board.
Pilot - S/Ldr Edward Claud Inglefield RAFO (37738), aged 25, of Weyhill, Hampshire. Buried Fulford Cemetery, York.
Pilot (Passenger) - P/O Charles John Roger Boyce RAFVR (112002), aged 25, of Hendon. Buried Kingsby Churchyard, Middlesex.
Passenger - AC2 William Giblin RAFVR (1526080), aged 21, of Selly Oak, Birmingham. Buried Lodge Hill Cemetery, Birmingham.
Civilian - Miss Mary Parker, aged 20, of Leicester Avenue, Doncaster. Died of injuries 1st May 1942. Burial location unknown.
Civilian - Name unknown. Minor injuries.
S/Ldr Inglefield's grave at Fulford Cemetery, York. Edward Inglefield received his commission to the rank of Acting P/O on probation on 30th March 1936. He was confirmed in
his rank and graded as P/O on 3rd February 1937. He then received promotions to F/O on 3rd November 1938, F/Lt on 3rd September 1940 and then to S/Ldr (temp) on 1st September 1941.
Charles Boyce received his commission on 19th November 1941 to the rank of P/O on probation (emergency).