Fairey IIIf J9061 in its 24 Squadron markings (Thanks to Jim Rudland for this photograph).
On the 8th of May 1931 a Fairey IIIf was being flown from Leuchars in Scotland down to Northolt, Middlesex and
following the route often taken for such flights. Such a route was to fly up, or in this case down, the north east coast of England.
Poor weather was encountered when the aircraft reached the Tees area and flying in dense mist, drizzle and semi-darkness
the pilot elected to go in land. Flying at around 400 feet
the aircraft had flown inland at Redcar and headed roughly south-west probably to attempt a landing at Catterick aerodrome.
Near Carlton in Cleveland the aircraft clipped trees and crashed soon after in the region of Dromonby Bank. The aircraft sustained
extensive damage to the front of the machine, the pilot sustained injuries when he was thrown forwards onto the instrument panel.
His collegue who was uninjured and was able to assist his pilot to exit the aircraft and walk down to Manor House Farm for help.
The pilot was later taken to Busby Hall and later to RAF Catterick's hospital for treatment. He was almost certainly not a member
of No.24 Sqdn but was flying himself to Northolt in this aircraft. The assumption is that this mechanic may then have flown it back alone.
The aircraft was built to contract 794752/27 by Fairey and was completed with dual controls. It first flew on the 26th March 1928.
It was issued to 24 (Communications) Squadron at Northolt in May 1928. The aircraft was damaged enough for it to be written
off in the incident detailed above, Cat W/FA damage being recorded.
Pilot - W/C Thomas Edward Barham Howe AFC RAF - seriously injured.
Mechanic - LAC Gordon J Jamieson RAF, uninjured.
He was promoted to S/L in 1924, W/C in 1928, G/C in 1933 and Air Comdre on 1st July 1937. Additionally he acted
as Air Aide-de-Camp to King George V from January 1934 to August 1935.
His life is still being researched.
Thomas Howe was born in Ireland in 1886 and began his service in the Australian Imperial Forces in October 1914. He later
transferred to the RNAS as a F/Lt in 1916. He won the AFC in France in 1918 for valuable flying services and a MiD during the Great War
and was granted a permenant commission. From September 1919 to January 1923 he served at the School of Air Pilotage and for valuable flying
services at the school he was awarded a bar to the AFC in the New Years Honours list 1923. After a year commanding No.32 Sqdn he trained at the RAF
Staff College. In January 1929 he was appointed commander of Station Headquarters, Northolt and later in the same year he was posted to command No.203
Sqdn in Iraq. He returned to the UK in 1930 and was later appointed to the Directorate of Training at the Air Ministry in January 1931 until January 1933.
In 1933 he was posted to Headquarters Fighting Area, as Officer-in-Charge of Administration and later the role of Senior Equipment Staff Officer. He was then
appointed to the Air Attache in Washington from September 1935 until the end of 1937 when he returned to the UK and took up the role of
Senior Air Staff Officer at Headquarters, No.12 (Fighter) Group. In the New Years Honours list 1936 he was awarded the CBE.
I have yet to locate where this aircraft came down.