During the afternoon of 4th January 1943 the crew of this No.2 (Coastal) Operational Training Unit aircraft undertook a training flight that involved photography. At 15.25hrs when the aircraft was being flown near Hunmanby it spun into the ground after a tight turn was made at low height. Just before the impact it was seen to roll over and dive into the ground on land close to Hunmanby Hall. The crew of two were killed.
Beaufighter EL402 was built to contract B.65570/40 by The Bristol Aeroplane Co. Ltd. at Old Mixon and was awaiting collection in September 1942. It was taken on charge by 2 (C)OTU at Catfoss on an unknown date in late 1942 but as a new aircraft. As a result of the crash at Hunmanby on 4th January 1943 Cat.E2/FA damage was recorded and it was written off.
Pilot - Sgt James Seatter Dickson RAAF (409206), aged 20, of Albert Park, Victoria, Australia. Buried Edinburgh Eastern Cemetery.
Observer - Sgt Joseph Miles RAFVR (992871), aged 22, of Leigh. Buried Leigh Cemetery, Lancashire.
James Dickson was born in Glasgow, Scotland on 28th October 1922 but his family moved to Balavlava, Victoria, Australia when he was young. He was working for Guinea Airways, New Guinea as a junior engineer when he enlisted into the RAAF on 20th July 1941 in Melbourne. He was awarded his Wings on 2nd April 1942 and after arriving in the UK he trained at 6 (P)AFU from 1st September 1942, 60 OTU from 13th October 1942 and arrived at 2 (C)OTU on 27th November 1942.
Joseph Miles was born on 12th November 1920 at Leigh, Lancashire and enlisted into the RAF on 15th April 1920. He is buried in Leigh Cemetery, Lancashire.