P51 Mustang at Cayton Carr, Scarborough.
A P51 Mustang of the same Unit as the aircraft involved in this incident.
On the 7th of February 1945 three Mustangs took off for a training flight from their base at East Wretham at 14.14hrs. Two of the aircraft
were new to the Unit and their pilots were to undertake tests on the guns and their performance at altitude. The third aircraft was an
older aircraft and was infact listed as "war weary" and was declared not safe for combat flying; dispite this it was mechanically sound.
This third pilot was acting as an observer to the other two. They flew in a "V" formation during the gun test and climbed to 30,000ft for the second part of the test.
Following this exercise out the three
aircraft descended to 21,000ft where they began to make a series of aerobatic turns. Now ninety minutes into the flight one
aircraft left the formation and then called the other two pilots to say he was having trouble with his propeller. The other two pilots
had banked away and could not contact their man on
the radio after this message and after searching for him they headed back to base. The problem with the propeller became worse and
eventually it broke away from the aircraft while it was still at high altitude. Making a poor glider and possibly having sustained other damage by the propeller breaking away the pilot was
left with little option but to bale out at height.
With the engine having nothing to drive it screamed and the aircraft dived into the ground at high speed near Cayton, Scarborough. Wartime parachute technology was not as it is today, they worked well at
controlling a descent but controlling direction was not what they were intended for. Baling out at this height with no oxygen undoubtably had its effect on the pilot and he probably
passed out and coupled with what wind there was effecting his descent he unfortunately drifted some ten to
fifteen miles out to sea. Dispite the lifeboat being called out sadly no trace of the pilot was ever found, this is still the
case and he remains listed as missing. Locals often incorrectly refer to this aircraft as being a Spitfire, as is often the case with fighter aircraft.
Pilot - 2nd Lt Henry L Thompson USAAF (O-813608), aged 26, of Tyler, Texas, USA. Missing. Commemerated at Madingley, Cambridgeshire.
Henry Thompson had a total of 708 hours flying experience when he was killed and whilst his service records have not yet been
accessed it is thought he arrived in the UK in the latter part of 1944. Prior to enlisting he was a very talented horticulturist,
garden designer
and landscape architect with a fondness for roses. In his home town of Tyler, Texas he designed a rose garden which is thought he never
saw develop as it did. The garden is still in existance today which makes a fine tribute to him. A memorial to him was created by its entrance some years ago.
The rare colour photograph below
shows Henry's wife Laura and his young son Larry in this rose garden almost certainly taken by Henry himself.
Henry Thompson in happier times.
In June 2008 I was contacted by Henry Thompson's son Mr Larry Thompson and nephew Mr Erik Thompson. I would like to thank
them both for their comments and to the former for all the photographs and information he has kindly allowed me to show on
this webpage wihout which this account would not be as full.
The aircraft involved in this incident, "Little Liquidator" (the pilot is Lt George F Baker Jnr USAAF). The aircraft initially
carried the code "CV-H" but was re-coded "CV-O" prior to its loss at Cayton.
I have yet to locate and visit the crash site though the site is believed to be behind what is now the McCain's chip factory.
Of the other two pilots flying with 2nd Lt Thompson on this
day 2nd Lt James Ferris was killed in a training accident on 17th June 1945 flying P-51b Mustang 42-106929 "CV-G" and named "Lola Lee".
The photograph shown above shows this aircraft and was found on ""www.457thbombgroup.org"".
