Hawker Audax K7449 near Atwick.
This aeroplane was on the books with No.3 Flying Training School and was normally based at South Cerney. On 17th February 1939 the unit must have been on an annual armament training camp at Catfoss which saw pilots practice gunnery on targets off the Yorkshire coast, and often undertook practice bombing (where the aeroplanes were bombing types). On this date the pilot had undertaken a gunnery training flight on the targets over the sea. He was making the return flight toward Catfoss to land when the engine cut out near the coast. Unable to reach Catfoss the pilot made a forced landing in a ploughed field near Atwick. Unfortunately the wheels appear to have dug into the loose soil and the aeroplane overturned, coming to rest around twenty yards from a road. The pilot sustained minor head injuries.
Pilot - Acting P/O Francis Raymond Graeme-Evans RAF (40619). Minor injuries.
Audax K7449 was built to contract 437223/35 by A.V.Roe & Co.Ltd. at Chadderton and was delivered to No.3 ASU at Sealand on 26th January 1937. On 30th August 1937 it was taken on charge by No.3 FTS at South Cerney. On 29th October 1937 it overshot on landing at Penrhos and overturned resulting in a Cat.M/FA damage assessment and a repair on site. On 24th August 1938 it overshot landing at South Cerney and ran into a hedge resulting in a second Cat.M/FA damage assessment and a repair on site being made. On 17th February 1939 it crashed near Atwick. Cat.W/FA damage was the assessment and it was struck off charge on 8th June 1939.