Beaufighter X8060 near Kilham.
During the afternoon of 5th February 1943 the crew of this No.2 (Coastal) Operational Training Unit aircraft were detailed to undertaking a training flight named on the accident records as
being a "DTC Exercise". Whilst flying over the Yorkshire Wolds at around 17.00hrs the starboard engine failed. Part of the engine then totally broke free and fell off while in the air. Visibility was poor and the crew were probably unsure of their position as they
required directional finding assistance from the ground. Rather than attempting to fly back to Catfoss on one engine the pilot elected to attempt a landing in a field near Kilham. Contrary to
instructions, this was an attempted landing rather than an attempted forced, belly landing because the wheels were lowered. The flaps were correctly extended prior to the landing to slow the
aircraft but because the aircraft was going to undershoot the selected field the pilot applied power to the working engine to clear trees. Applying power to one engine on a Beaufighter (which
were high powered engines on a relatively light aeroplane) combined
with the pilot's inexperience saw the aircraft roll over, hit a tree and it then crashed almost inverted. The location given on accident records puts it as crashing around two miles east of Kilham
though this could actually be nearer Burton Agnes or Rudston, depending on exactly where it crashed. The crash killed both airmen in the aircraft.
Pilot - F/Sgt Alan Rodway Smith RAFVR (1388945), aged 20. Buried Brandesburton Churchyard, Yorkshire.
Navigator/Bomber - Sgt Wilfred Billingham RAFVR (1233699), aged 21. Buried Shiregreen Cemetery, Sheffield, Yorkshire.
F/Sgt Smith's grave at Brandesburton. He was born in London on 1st March 1922 and enlisted for RAF service on 24th April 1941.
Wilfred Billingham was born on 11th July 1921 and enlisted for RAF service on 4th March 1941.
