British Military Airfield Histories.
a project that offers you the histories of 790 airfields or seaplane bases

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CRASHED MILITARY AIRCRAFT IN YORKSHIRE.

 1930 TO 1985.

This is another project that the author provided at the request of the Yorkshire Air Museum in order that relatives of the airmen involved could find out the circumstances and the location of the sites where their loved ones lost their lives. Like the Airfield Histories it is on view at the museum and takes on a similar format with its database hard copies and large scale location map.

It covers 1800 military aircraft crashes that have occurred on Yorkshires soil or adjacent waters over the years 1930 to 1985. Naturally the majority of these were Halifax bombers although Wellingtons and Whitleys feature prominently as do Beaufighters flown from the training station at Catfoss.

The format gives the date of the occurrence, aircraft type and serial number, the squadron or unit, circumstances and crash details, including crew names where appropriate. In the majority of cases the map reference of the location of the crash site is stated. Many of these appear thanks to the co-operation of aircraft amateur archaeologists Dick Barton, Ken Reast and Rodney Robinson, whilst the bomber crew names are largely thanks to W.R. Chorley and his excellent "Bomber Command Losses" volumes.

The project includes a very comprehensive appendix of statistics which throws up some very interesting facts. For instance which squadron or unit suffered the worst casualties?. Did the Canadians suffer more than the British?. Which aircraft type appeared to be prone to accidents?.

If demand is not excessive the author is willing to provide crash details to interested parties, providing they can furnish the approximate location, as the map showing these is only available at the Yorkshire Air Museum, thus not stored by electronic means on his home computer. Just contact him at the E.Mail address given on the Home Page.

The demise of Halifax LW598 at Newton on Ouse, YORK (near the authors home) on 9/6/44

The extract for the above from the Crashed Aircraft Database is shown below,

Crashed during an air display whilst demonstrating how not to fly!