Blenheim Z6338 near Long Marston.

On 18th December 1943 the crew of this No.1 Air Armament School aircraft became lost while flying in bad weather and then ran low on fuel. The crew baled out when the fuel ran out in the area due west of York and the aircraft crashed near Long Marston.

The Rufforth airfield station record book mentions this incident in some detail, stating it was a Blenheim from "No.26 Bomb Aimers Course" based at Manby and that its occupants were found to have baled out of the aircraft prior to the subsequent crash. No.3 Post reported the aircraft to have been in trouble prior to the crash with the engines heard cutting out and then the aircraft was heard to have been diving with the engines on full power. Owing to the night being an exceptionally dark night with rain the aircraft could not be seen but Flying Control were advised of the aircraft at 17.20hrs. Unfortunately an incorrect map reference was provided and it took until 19.20hrs for the crashed aircraft to be located. A location given in the orb puts the site as being roughly midway between Hutton Wandesley and Bilton, and due south of Long Marston. The pilot's logbook has been digitally archived by the IBCC which gives the two other airmen listed below. He was a staff pilot with No.1 A.A.S. at the time. RAF Regiment personnel from Rufforth supplied a guard on the crash site which was lifted on 23rd December 1943.

Pilot - P/O Andrzej Fragiszek Ksawery Jeziorski PAF (704259 / P.2411).

? - F/O McColl.

? - P/O May.