Battle K7712, eventually landed at Doncaster (Finningley aerodrome).
On Monday, 6th March 1939 at least one 226 Squadron aeroplane undertook a training exercise that would have seen them fly from their base of Harwell, near Oxford and navigate to the Durham area, probably a cross country training exercise that would then have seen them then return to base. As they appear to have been flying north the aeroplane passed over the rising ground to the west of Sheffield and developed engine trouble. With there being no real suitable landing ground within reach of the low flying aeroplane the pilot instructed the two crew he was flying with to bale out over the Bradfield area. Both men left at around the same time close to Nether House Farm, Bradfield. One man landed without incident. The other man unfortunately landed on a farm building roof while his parachute caught in a tree, he then fell off the roof and the parachute ripped which led to him falling onto or close to a stone wall and he received minor head and hand injuries. Mrs Oak, who lived at the farm, heard his shouts and went around the back of the buildings to find him. Both airmen were later taken to Sheffield Royal Infirmary but were not detained. They later returned to Harwell by train. Very shortly after the two men had left the aeroplane, its engine began to pick up again and the pilot was able to resume normal flying. He climbed and flew off, landing a short time later in the Doncaster area; and probably at Finningley aerodrome without damage.
Pilot - P/O Noel John Robertson RAF (39758).
Observer - F/Sgt Frederick John Percival RAF (562846).
Observer - AC James Allan RAF (567235). Injured on landing.
Frederick Percival was killed on 14th May 1940 when Battle P2267 failed to return from an operational sortie to a target in France, believed shot down by flak while attacking a bridge at Douzy. He has no known grave. 226 Squadron lost four aeroplanes on this raid.
James Allan was one of only four RAF airmen to survive two pre-ww2 parachute descents and was the only non-officer, his second was three months after this first one. He went on to receive a commission in 1944 and receive a Mention in Despatches in 1946.