Mosquito DD747 at West Park / Airmyn Road, Goole.
On 8th April 1943 this 25 Squadron aircraft took off from Church Fenton at 18.20hrs to undertake a night-time test flight. Two minutes after taking off radio contact was established with the aircraft but from then nothing further was heard from it. It was cloudy at the time of the flight and shortly before 19.00hrs it was heard by members of the Royal Observer Corps at Goole estimated to be flying normally at around 4,000 feet. It was then heard to be in a dive as the engine note changed after a muffled bang was heard. The tail of this aircraft had infact broken off in the air and it dived into ground in the region of West Park, Centenary Rd/Airmyn Road, in Goole and sadly both airmen on board were killed. The observer had only just returned to 25 Squadron after sustaining serious injuries in an earlier crash, before taking off the pilot was overheard stating that he intended to "throw the aircraft about a bit" so the observer could assess how he felt. An investigation found the starboard tailplane and elevator, tail wheel and two undercarriage doors were not at the crash site and they were not found elsewhere. It was assumed that the two undercarriage doors, which had not had a recommended modification made to the door latches, had probably opened and broken off which had then struck the tailplane causing it to detach. 25 Squadron nearly suffered an identical crash on 28th April 1943 when the same thing happened to Mosquito DD754 but the tailplane did not break off, its pilot managed to crash land the aircraft at base.
Pilot - F/Sgt Terence Emile Procureur RAFVR (1294007), aged 21, of Ipswich. Buried Ipswich Old Cemetery, Suffolk.
Observer - Sgt Gerald Henry Wheatland RAFVR (1338467), aged 21, of Hounslow. Buried Heston Churchyard, Middlesex.
Gerald Wheatland was born in the Aston area of Warwickshire in 1922, he had survived the crash of Beaufighter X7698 near Bielby on 7th November 1942 when he was thrown clear. He was admitted to hospital suffering from severe burns and a fractured pelvis. Sadly his then pilot Sgt M H Griffiths was killed. He recovered from his injuries and returned to 25 Squadron only to loose his life in this incident at Goole.
Mosquito DD747 was built to contract Ctts/a/c/555 by the De Havilland Aircraft Co. Ltd, at Hatfield and was awaiting collection in September 1942. After being received by 32 MU on 7th September 1942 it was taken on charge by 25 Squadron at Church Fenton on 6th November 1942. As a result of the crash in Goole on 8th April 1943 Cat.E2/FA damage resulted that saw the aircraft written off. It was struck off charge on 15th April 1943.