On 17th April 1951 the pilot of this 205 Advanced Flying School was undertaking a single engine flying training exercise using the relief landing ground at Neasham when, while making an approach to land, the runway controller fired a red very flare signalling him not to land. The controller spotted that the pupil pilot had not lowered the undercarriage. Unfortunately by this stage the pilot was committed to landing on one engine and while he touched down on the runway the aircraft then skidded off into a ploughed area next to the runway. The pilot had simply forgotten to lower the undercarriage on the landing approach. Neasham was formerly Croft airfield. It was opened as a Relief Landing Ground for the use of 205 A.F.S. on 19th February 1951 and prior to this was used soley by the Darlington and District Aero Club. 205 A.F.S. initially used it to reduce the high intensity of flying circuits and landings exercise on just their home Middleton St.George airfield.

The incident was highly unlikely to have occurred at the parent Middleton St.George airfield as is claimed elsewhere on the internet. Firstly, the unit record book stated it was at Neasham. Secondly, I find it highly unlikely that the grassed parts of Middleton St.George airfield were ever been ploughed up while the airfield was an active airfield.

Pilot - Sgt William Edwin Milner RAF (4038429).