Beaufighter KV979 at Scorton airfield.

At 01.52hrs on 6th March 1944 this 604 Squadron Beaufighter swung badly during a night time take off from Scorton airfield, the aircraft struck trees on the northern boundary of the airfield and the wreckage caught fire. One member of the crew was killed and one injured.

LAC John Judge was awarded the BEM for services rendered at an aeroplane crash and this may relate to the site of Beaufighter KV979, the citation reads.."One night in March 1944, a Beaufighter aircraft crashed on take-off and burst into flames. The pilot was killed. Aircraftman Judge, a member of the airfield crash party, rendered sterling services by assisting to break into the rear of the fuselage, and climbing forward in an endeavour to free the observer. He was unable to free the latter but kept him sprayed with water. Ultimately the rescue party, working from the outside, were able to cut their way through and extricate the observer. This airman’s action undoubtedly helped to save the observer's life."

Pilot - F/Sgt Frank Edward Slade RAF (657716), aged 30. Buried Oystermouth Cemetery, Swansea.

Navigator / Radar Operator - Name unknown. Injured.

The 604 Squadron ORB for March 1944 is missing from the online National Archives records within AIR27 and there is no Scorton airfield / station orb. Prior to this incident F/Sgt Slade was flying regularly with someone called Phillips before his death and a F/Sgt R J Powell appears to have been injured around this date. The name F/O Reginald Hurbert Phillips RAF (47088) is suggested elsewhere.
Beaufighter KV979 was built to contract ACFT/1935/C.23a by Rootes Securities Ltd. at Blythe Bridge and was received by 218 MU at Colerne on 26th September 1943. It was then taken on charge by 604 Squadron at Scorton on 30th October 1943. As a result of the crash there on 6th March 1944 Cat.E2/FA damage was the damage assessment and it was struck off charge. It had clocked up 109 hours flying from new.

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