Wellington T.10 RP520 near Garton on the Wolds.
During the night on 7th May 1947 this No.10 Air Navigation School aircraft was being flown to give the crew refresher training and had already made several short circuits and landings flights. After taking for another circuit and having got to around thousand feet in the vicinity of Driffield airfield the pilot reported that he had lost elevator control. He attempted to make a hurried approach to land at Driffield but lost control and crashed short of the runway.
Harold Latham, of Elmswell Wold, saw the plane pass over farm at hedge top level at high speed. Mrs G Dales, of Spellow Farm, knew nothing of the crash until the RAF knocked on her door at 3am asking to use their telephone. Search parties were organised and these included German Prisoners of War. Joe Owen, of Garton Grange, heard the crash and was able to supply information to enable the search party to locate the wrecked aeroplane. It was found in a field near Garton Green Lane, half a mile north of the York to Driffield road and had clearly hit the hedges along side the lane where both engines broke away and remained. The rest of aircraft broke up over a few hundred yards beyond and down the slope across a field. It was found that rivets the secured one of the elevator hhinge brackets had sheared causing the elevator control to fail. The National Archives hold the investigtion at "AVIA5/29. Rep W2380."
Pilot - F/Lt Vincent Sydney Walker RAFVR (120936), aged 27. Buried Muston Churchyard, Leicestershire.
Navigator - Sig.II Colin Hardwick RAFVR (1592854), aged 21. Buried Eston Cemetery, Yorkshire (P.68).