The Lysander crashed on the 7th of October 1940 the crew of this aircraft took off base at 06.35hrs to undertake a coastal
reconnaissance flight. It would be the pilots first such flight since joining the Squadron. The reconnaissance part of the flight was done and base was
signalled to say that they were to return. The aircraft then made for Carlton in Cleveland and a "Divisional Headquarters" presumably of Army Co-Op work.
Whilst no orders were given to fly here it seemed likely that the pilot, with his relatively experienced gunner, were taking the opportunity
of familiarising himself with the region for flights in the future. The aircraft made a number of low passes over a nearby message dropping field. At 07.52hrs on
one such pass the aircraft was seen to dive into the ground at high speed and from a height of around 50 feet into a field close the Carlton to
Faceby road near to what is now the northern edge of the North Yorkshire Moors National Park boundary. The reason for the crash
was never fully understood, it was thought the pilot lost control while flying usually low. 4 Sqdn's O.R.B. simply states
"crashed whilst low flying at Carlton." The aircraft was writen off and the sadly the crew of two were killed.
The aircraft was built to contract 23637/39 by Westland at Yeovil and after delivery to MU in July 1940 it was issued to 4 Sqdn
at Linton on Ouse. It was written off with Cat W/FA in the above incident on 7th October 1940.
Pilot - P/O Richard W Harris RAF, aged 22, of Stone, Staffordshire. Buried Newton-on-Ouse, Yorkshire.
Air Gunner - Sgt Marcus R Harvey RAF, aged 29, of Acklam, Middlesrough. Buried Acklam Cemetery, Middlesbrough. He is buried in a joint grave, sect A, joint grave 44.
The pilot's headstone at Newton on Ouse, Yorkshire.
The crash site is thought to be within the area shown in this photograph between the villages of Faceby and Carlton and close to the ajoining road.
