Martinet MS550 at Dalton airfield.
This aircraft and crew were on the books of 1695 (Bomber) Defence Training Flight who undertook the role of drogue towing and also fighter attacking aircraft for fighter affiliation exercises. At around 14.00hrs on 24th April 1944 this Martinet took off from Dalton airfield to undertake a drogue towing flight. At 14.37hrs the aircraft was landing in a strong wind back at Dalton, on touching down the aircraft began to taxi off the runway but when the pilot tried to turn the aircraft it did not change line and ran into some soft grass. Wind caught the aircraft causing lift, it then fell onto the starboard wing causing the starboard undercarriage to sink into the ground and then collapse.
Pilot - F/O Edmund Raoul Herve Yvon LeFebvre RCAF (J/16317),
This pilot had earlier trained as a Halifax pilot. On 28th January 1943 he was training with 1659 Heavy Conversion Unit and flying Halifax W1146 when the aircraft flew into high ground near Thwaite, Swaledale. Sadly a number of his then crew were killed in the crash and he sustained serious injuries. After recovering from his injuries he was posted to 1691 (Bomber) Gunnery Flight. He serving with 1695 (Bomber) Defence Training Flight in Summer 1944 when this incident occurred. He was later posted to 424 Squadron and was awarded the DFC, Gazetted on 23rd March 1945.