In early September 1944 291 Squadron were in the process of receiving Hurricanes with some collected by their pilots from various other airfields and sites. On 5th September 1944 three of their pilots; F/Sgt Valentine, Sgt Warren and Sgt Benson, travelled to Castle Bromwich by train to collected three Hurricanes from an aircraft repair depot. They remained at Castle Bromwich overnight and on 6th September 1944 took off to fly their new aircraft back toward their home 291 Squadron airfield at Hutton Cranswick. Their own orb states that on this date all their air co-operation work was cancelled owing to very bad weather. As the weather deteriorated on their route north Sgt Benson was successful in reaching Hutton Cranswick while Sgt Warren landed at Brough and made the short flight over the Wolds later in the day. Unfortunately F/Sgt Valentine crashed in poor visibility near Wold House Farm, between South Newbald and High Hunsley and was killed. Hutton Cranswick's station orb mentions the incident as being around 200 yards from High Hunsley crossroads. Two days later Valentines body was escorted to Hutton Cranswick railway station by officers and members of aircrew for the journey north accompanied by F/O Davis, 291 Squadron Adjutant. His funeral was held the following day. Notably this aircraft was one of 112 Hurricanes that was the very final production run.
Pilot - F/Sgt Joseph Valentine RAFVR (1394844), aged 28. Buried Burntisland Cemetery, Fife.
Joseph Valentine had served with 289 Squadron earlier in 1943 and was posted to 650 Squadron when it formed on 1st November 1943. On 19th December 1943 he was flying Martinet JN551 when it suffered engine failure, he force landed the aircraft on the beach at Ravenglass, Cumbria. He was later posted to 291 Squadron possibly when they were flying Martinets. I credit John Burnett with the photograph of his gravestone.