Proctor LZ675 at Wath on Dearne.
On 27th January 1944 this aircraft was force landed near Wath on Dearne when poor weather conditions prevented the aircraft from being flown an further. The only mention of this incident I have located to date was found in a Ferry Command occurrence book in the National Archives. It does not give any other information.
Pilot - Name unknown.
Proctor LZ675 was built to contract ACFT/498 by F.Hills & Sons at Trafford Park, Manchester and was delivered to 44 MU at Edzell on 30th June 1943. On 18th September 1943 the aircraft was taken on charge by 84 Group Composite Unit at Gatwick. This unit was tasked with supplying pilots for the 2nd Tactical Air Force in preparation for D-Day). The unit moved to Hutton Cranswick on 7th October 1943 and to Doncaster nine days later. They left Yorkshire on 21st January 1943 for Twinwood Farm and then moved to Cowley on 29th October 1943. The published Air Britain history of the aircraft states it 'crashed’ on 26th January 1944 and this clearly relates to the incident that the Ferry Command occurance book listed as being the following day. The aircraft was almost certainly damage to Cat.B degree which would have required a repair in works somewhere but the factory is not known. On 28th March 1944 it was awaiting collection. On 6th April 1944 it was flown to 44 MU at Edzell but on 20th August 1944 it was flown to Percival Aircraft Ltd. at Luton for conversion to Mk.III Series II status. On 11th September 1944 it was taken on charge by the Station Flight at St.David’s. On 24th July 1945 it was transferred to 26 Squadron at Chilbolton and then moved to Brussels with them on 18th August 1945, Schleswig on 20th August 1945 and Lubeck on 7th September 1945. On 30th October 1945 it was transferred to the Station Flight at Brawdy. On 18th January 1946 it was transferred to Armstrong Whitworth Ltd. at Baginton. On 8th May 1947 it was transferred to the Station Flight at White Waltham. On 1st September 1948 it was transferred to the Reserve Command South West (R.C.S.W.). On 27th October 1948 it was taken on charge by the Reserve Command H.Q. at White Waltham. On 26th June 1950 it was taken to St.Athan for conversion to a Ground Instructional Airframe and on 30th June 1950 the conversion was complete, the registration changed to 6774M. Nothing more of the aircraft is known other than it was struck off charge on 16th July 1954.