Magister T9888 near Northallerton.
On Monday, 8th November 1943 this 96 Squadron Magister was due to be flown from Drem to West Malling during the squadron's move and was to have landed at Acklington, Church Fenton and Wittering to re-fuel. The aeroplane appears to have run out of fuel in the Northallerton area and the pilot made a successful forced landing in a field near "Ottertown Hill" (as described as such in a No.6 Group flying control log book. If the location is correct I am unclear as to where Ottertown Hill is. It could be a spelling error for Atley Hill or even Otterington Hall. Leeming airfield arranged to refuel the aircraft on site but owing to the weather advised the pilot to either stay where he was or to fly the short distance to Leeming to land and await improving weather there. The pilot later took off and ignored the advice.
Pilot - Lt W Smith USAAC.
Magister T9888 was delivered new to No.37 M.U. at Burtonwood on 11th September 1940 where it remained for some months until being taken on charge by 96 Squadron at Cranage on 23th March 1941. On 7th October 1941 it was flown to No.32 M.U. at St.Athan before returning to 96 Squadron 20th October 1941 just before they moved to Wrexham. 96 Squadron later moved to Honiley and were at Drem just prior to 8th November 1943. The forced landing near Northallerton saw no damage to the aeroplane. On 28th December 1944 the aeroplane was transferred to 456 Squadron RAAF at Ford who later moved to Church Fenton on 30th December 1944 then Bradwell Bay on 16th March 1945. On 17th May 1945 it passed to No.51 M.U. at Lichfield. On 24th April 1946 the aeroplane was sold to Derby Aero Club Ltd. at Burnaston and it was registered on the UK civil register as G-AIOJ. On 21st June 1949 this registration was cancelled as it was sold to an overseas customer. On 26th September 1949 it was registered in New Zealand as ZK-ATE to Canterbury Aero Club, Christchurch, New Zealand. On 8th October 1954 it was registered to Raymond Selwyn Sweney, at Hokitika. On 18th December 1956 it was registered to Piako Aero Club, at Waharoa but on 8th January 1957 it crashed on take of at Omaka, Blenheim, New Zealand and was destroyed by fire.