Mosquito DZ264 near Church Fenton airfield.
On 28th May 1943 the pilot of this 25 Squadron aircraft was flying an airtest and was flying on one engine, as it appoached Church Fenton airfield to land the aircraft stalled and crashed, the pilot was sadly killed.
Pilot - S/Ldr David Evans RAF (42491). Buried Bebington Churchyard, Cheshire.
David Evans was born in Liverpool in November 1919. He received a commission on 19th August 1939 to the rank of Acting P/O on probation and was graded as P/O on probation on 1st February 1940. He flew with 615 Squadron in France in early May 1940 but the squadron withdrew later in the month due to heavy losses. He was confirmed as P/O on 26th June 1940. He begun the Battle of Britain flying with 615 Squadron and made several claims against enemy aircraft in August 1940. He was posted to 607 Squadron in September 1940 and was shot down on 5th October 1940. He was later posted to 257 Squadron on 17th October 1940 and then to 85 Squadron on 18th November 1940 damaging and destroying two enemy aircraft over the coming months. He received promotions to F/O (war subs) on 1st February 1941 and to F/Lt on 1st February 1942. He was Mentioned in Despatches on 1st January 1943 and was promoted to Acting S/Ldr prior to his death but the date for this is not known.
Mosquito DZ264 was built by De Havilland to contract 555/c23a and was flown to 19 MU as new on 1st December 1942. The aircraft was taken on charge by 25 Squadron on 23rd December 1942. Six days later it was returned to 19 MU which suggests there was a problem with the aircraft. It was returned to 25 Squadron once sorted but the date it returned is not known. As a result of the crash on 28th May 1943 Cat.E/FA damage was the damage assessment and it was struck off charge on 31st May 1943.