On 21st October 1943 the crew of this 25 Squadron aircraft took off from Church Fenton airfield with the crew tasked with practising radar controlled interceptions and also possibly an air-firing exercise. While flying at low level just off the Yorkshire coast the constant speed unit on one of the propellers went into a fully fine position and could not be corrected. The pilot, who was the commanding officer of 25 Squadron, was able to get the aircraft to climb above the cliff tops and made a forced landed the aircraft near Bempton. Both crew escaped injury, the aircraft however was badly damaged after it had probably struck anti-invasion poles that would have been laid in many of the fields on the Yorkshire coastline at the time.
Pilot - W/Cdr Cathcart Michael Wight-Boycott DSO RAF (72005).
Navigator / Radar Operator - (probably) F/Lt Evatt Anthony Sanders DFC RAFVR (106175).
There is plenty on the internet detailing Cathcart Wight-Boycott's life and reproducing everything here seems pointless. In brief he received a commission in the RAF in September 1937 and in 1941 was flying with 219 Squadron. In Summer 1942 he became the commanding officer of 29 Squadron and for service with them he was awarded the DSO, Gazetted on 5th February 1943. The citation for his DSO reads.. "Wight-Boycott has completed much operational flying by night. He was appointed to command his squadron in September 1942. In January 1943, during an enemy air attack, he displayed outstanding skill and keenness and destroyed four enemy aircraft. Wing Commander Wight-Boycott's exceptional personal feat and the fine performance of his squadron was in keeping with his reputation for outstanding enthusiasm and thoroughness." He later served as commanding officer at 25 Squadron and was awarded the Bar to the DSO for service with them, Gazetted on 21st November 1944. Evatt Sanders was his navigator while at 29 Squadron and at 25 Squadron. He survived the War and remained in the RAF, rising through the upper ranks to Air Commodore. He was awarded the CBE, Gazetted on 13th June 1957 and became the Commandant of the Royal Observer Corp in 1961. He remained in the RAF Reserve of Officers at least until September 1975. He died December 1998.
Evatt Sanders was the son of Carl Hubert Sanders and was born in Brandon, Manitoba, Canada in 1908. He and his family must have moved to the UK when he was young as he went to school in England. He enlisted for RAF service in 1940 and had received a commission to the rank of P/O on probation on 13th September 1941. He rose to F/O exactly a year later. He was awarded the DFC for service with 29 Squadron, Gazetted on 9th February 1943, the citation for his DFC reads.."As observer, this officer has completed numerous operational sorties. On the night of January 17th 1943, he took part in the destruction of four enemy aircraft. Flying Officer Sanders has always displayed resolution and tenacity when pursuing the enemy." He survived the War and in 1947 he transferred to the RAF Auxillary Air Force, he remained in the RAF AAF until 1959 when he transferred to the reserve. His father had served in the Royal Navy during WW1 and had re-joined in WW2. In October 1942 he was on board the troop transport ship President Doumer sailing between Sierra Leone and England when the ship was sunk by U-Boat U604. He was one of the 260 people killed as a result.
Mosquito DZ759 was built by De Havilland at Hatfield and was delivered to 10 MU on 12th March 1943. It was taken on charge by 25 Squadron on 26th March 1943. As a result of the crash on 21st October 1943 at Bempton Cat.B/FA damage appears to have been the initial damage assessment though this was then upgraded to Cat.E and it was struck off charge.
Back to monthly table.