Unidentified Gloster Gladiator at Farnley Hall.
On Tuesday, 3rd January 1939 this No.3 Squadron pilot appears to have got completely lost during a training flight after flying into fog or mist over Cambridge, when the aeroplane eventually ran out of fuel he force-landed in the park in front of Farnley Hall, Otley, on land ajoining Otley Wharfemeadows Riverside Park. No.3 Squadron were based at Kenley, Surrey. How it reached Otley, Yorkshire and the route the pilot took is unknown. No damage appears to have resulted from the forced landing and the pilot contacted Yeadon aerodrome by telephone for assistance.
Pilot - Acting P/O Donald James Catt RAF (S.No. unknown).
Acting P/O Catt arrived at 3 Squadron on 29th October 1938. Just days after getting completely lost and force landing in Yorkshire, on 17th January 1939 P/O Catt crashed Gladiator K6151 into a house at Crowborough, Sussex killing himself and a lady in the house. He was buried at East Grinstead three days later. The website "www.kenleyrevival.org" has a good article about the young man's life.