Beaufighter T4633 near Knaresborough.
Some months prior to March 1943 this aircraft had swung off the runway at Church Fenton and damaged the undercarriage. A length repair followed and on 7th March 1943 this 25 Squadron aircraft was ready to be given an airtest. During the afternoon, while flying in the area north-west of York the starboard engine cut out, the pilot decided to try and fly to Linton on Ouse airfield but the port engine then cut out and the aircraft would not maintain height. The pilot force landed the aircraft in a ploughed field in the Knaresborough area and all on board escaped injury. From information sourced one location referred to states a location of "Upper Dunscroft", also a mention of a Beaufighter crash landing on the same date at "Higher Dunford, Knaresborough" has been found and I assume that the two references refer to just one occurance. Neither places exist in Yorkshire and I make an assumption that the true location was Upper Dunsforth, just north of Great Ouseburn which is kind of in the Knaresborough area and in the general area of Linton on Ouse.
Pilot - F/O John Ferdinand Read Jones RAFVR (128559).
Passenger (Pilot) - F/O H J Gallagher (possibly Harold John Gallagher RAFVR (108533)).
John Jones' life is well documented because he was a Battle of Britain pilot. As a boy he attended Ripon Grammar School. Joining the RAF in 1939 he initially flew with 601 Squadro but joined 25 Squadron in February 1940. On 21st September 1940 Sgt Jones was seriously injured when 25 Squadron Blenheim L4906 overshot a night landing at Hendon and hit a gun emplacement. He took many months to recover but rejoined 25 Squadron once fit in March 1942. On completion of a second tour with 25 Squadron he flew as an instructor at 62 OTU but rejoined 25 Squadron in April 1944. On 5th October 1944 F/Lt Jones and his nav/rad F/O Skinner claimed a HeIII destroyed over the sea off Norfolk. On 7th May 1945 Jones was pilot of Mosquito MV530 that was shot down by American A.A. fire over Germany, he was forced to make a belly landed on fire near Ingulstadt though he escaped uninjured. He received two Mentions in Despatches for his service. Post-War he became a civilian airline pilot retiring in 1973.
Beaufighter T4633 was built to contract B.41906/39 by Fairey Aviation Ltd. at Heaton Chapel, Stockport and was awaiting collection in February 1941. It was taken on charge by 25 Squadron at Wittering in April 1941 and remained with 25 Squadron when they moved to Ballyhalbert on 24th January 1942 and to Church Fenton on 16th May 1942. It sustained damage on 17th August 1942 at Church Fenton when the starboard tyre burst on take off and it swung off the runway causing an undercarriage leg to collapse. W/O J F R Jones was the pilot on this occasion. The repair was a very lengthy one that was carried out at Church Fenton. 25 Squadron ceased using Beaufighters for their operational flying in January 1943 with a number being flown direct to 51 O.T.U. at Cranfield. On 7th March 1943 it sustained Cat.B/FA damage in the incident recorded above and was taken away to be repaired in a works factory. The aircraft next appears on charge with 51 O.T.U. at Cranfield. On 14th June 1945 51 O.T.U. disbanded. The aircraft was placed in MU storage and was struck off charge on 28th February 1946.