Beaufighter T5102 near Reighton, Filey.
On 18th March 1943 the crew of this 2 (C)O.T.U. aircraft were undertaking a daytime navigation exercise and at 15.30hrs, around 3.5 hours after taking off, the aircraft flew into the ground near the Dotterill Inn, Reighton. The aircraft was flying through low cloud and sea fret and while the pilot had descended below the cloud to location his position he then attempted to turn away from the fog bank but hit the ground while doing so. Where the aircraft crashed appears to have been a fairly flat field and is believed to have
been opposite a row of council houses near the Dotterel Inn. Technically in such weather conditions and finding themselves unclear of their position pilots should have climbed clear of any fog rather than to decend to work out his position, as a result the pilot of the aircraft was almost certainly blamed for the accident but both he and his navigator were lucky and survived, both were rescued by local farm workers including Mr Ted Bradshaw and are believed to have been taken to Scarborough hospital for treatment.
Pilot - Sgt Robert Ernest H Askew RAFVR (1072889). Injured.
Navigator / Radar Operator - Sgt A A McClymont RAFVR (1116787?). Injured.
This photograph shows the crash site and it is remarkable that both airmen survived this incident. The field appears to be covered in anti-invasion poles placed to try and prevent enemy aircraft from landing. The photograph of the crash site shown above needs proper crediting, it was given to me by the late Eddie Fell who was researching Catfoss related incidents. I have since seen the photograph in a superb little book entitled "A Village At War" by Ces Mowthorpe and it is credited in this book to Mr G E Bradshaw. Eddie may well have obtained the photograph through Mr Bradshaw or copied it from Mr Mowthorpe's book.
Beaufighter T5102 was built to contract B.41906/39 by Fairey Aviation Ltd., at Heaton Chapel, Stockport and was awaiting collection in April 1942. It was initially taken on charge by 248 Squadron in June 1942 at Sumburgh but on 3rd August 1942 248 Squadron left the UK for Takali, Malta and the aircraft was transferred to 2 (c)OTU at Catfoss. As a result of the mishap there on 3rd November 1942 minor Cat.A/FA damage was the damage assessment and it was repaired on site and returned to the unit. It was destroyed in the crash near Filey on 18th March 1943 after which Cat.E2/FA damage was recorded and it was written off.
Robert Askew was born in 1910 in the Wigton area of what was then Cumberland. He died in Carlisle (now Cumbria) in 1992.
