Whirlwind HAR.4 XL112 near Patrick Brompton.
On 20th November 1970 this 202 Squadron helicopter took off from Leconfield to undertake a training exercise. and the flight took them over the lower end of Wensleydale where the helicopter entered a patch of fog or thick cloud. The cloud was probably cumulonimbus which would have caused any pilot problems. The pilot, who was a Canadian exchange officer, had limited instrument flying experience and while he attempted to climb above the cloud, ice had probably began to form on the surfaces of the aircraft and would have presented other problems to flying. At 14.15hrs the helicopter crashed onto farmland near Grazing Nook farm, between Finghall and Patrick Brompton, and all four service personnel flying in it were killed. Reports suggest that one of those killed fell from the helicopter prior to the crash. The tail section and at least one main rotor blade were found severed some distance away from the main site; a rotor blade was found at least a mile from the main site and the tail section was found near Akebar Farm, around half a mile from the main site.
A combat survival exercise was ran by No.3 Flying Training School, who were based at Leeming airfield, from 18th to 21st November 1970 which took place in the Wensleydale area. It seems highly likely that this helicopter was operating as part of this exercise.
Pilot - Captain John Horton Balser. Canadian Airmed Forces (233451). Aged 34. Buried Acaciaville (Hillgrove United Baptist) Cemetery, Nova Scotia, Canada.
Winch Operator - Master Navigator Brian Henry Lock Sterland RAF (L4111750). Aged 35. Buried Leconfield Churchyard, Yorkshire.
Winchman - F/Sgt Charles Peter Ford (C1929815). Aged 31. Buried Leconfield Churchyard, Yorkshire.
Passenger - P/O Helen Susan McLaren WRAF (8031549), aged 21. Buried Logie Cemetery, Stirlingshire.