Mosquito T.3 TV968 near Kippax.

During the morning of 18th November 1946 this 264 Squadron aircraft was one of four that took off from Linton on Ouse to undertake a training exercise, this aircraft carried the squadron photographer who was due to take photographs of a flight of the three other Mosquitos undertaking formation flying training. During the flight the starboard engine of Mosquito TV968 caught fire. The wireless receiver that give the pilot an indication of where to fly to reach Linton on Ouse also failed. Just after noon the pilot made a forced landing in potato field just east of Kippax where the fire continued to burn but the two men on board escaped. The aircraft was destroyed. The investigation found that the fire continued to burn becauee the pilot had not cut the fuel supply to the engine. Cat.E/FA damage was the damage assessment and it was struck off charge a few days later.

Pilot - W/O Anthony Harry Johnson RAFVR (1609071).

Passenger - LAC Chalmers.

The crash site today is just east of the Kippax sports centre. Small fragments were located at the site with permission from the landowner by historians Albert Pritchard, Eric Barton and Ken Reast in 2004 to confirm the location. The photograph above shows some small fragments retained by Eric following his visit.