Heyford near Flaxton.

Heyford K5188.

On the 12th of December 1936 this aircraft took off from Aldergrove, Northern Ireland at 10.45hrs, it left in formation with six other aircraft, K4864, K4868, K6900, K4874, K6898 plus one other. This aircraft force landed after becoming lost in bad weather at Flaxton. The aircraft was slightly damaged in the landing, after minor repairs were carried out and refueling, it took off the next day and returned to Finningley.

A photograph which appeared in the York newspaper around the time of this landing showing the Heyford on the ground at Flaxton.

The aircraft was built to contract 389373/35 by Handley Page Ltd at Radlett and delivered to RAE at Farnborough for vibration tests on 11th October 1935. When Farnborough had finished with the aircraft it was sent to No. 2 ASU at Cardington for storage. The aircraft was prepared for service during the summer of 1936 and issued to 102 Sqdn at Worthy Down on 20th July 1936. On 3rd September 1936 the unit moved to Finningley. It sustained so minor damage at Flaxton that repairs were completed on site and it was flown out the next day. The aircraft moved with the unit to Honington on 7th July 1937 and made one last move with 102 Sqdn to Driffield on 11th July 1938. In October the same year 102 Sqdn converted to Whitley III's and the aircraft was placed into storage in an unknown ASU or MU. Records are a little vague but the aircraft is known to have served with 4 AOS at West Freugh, the date of issue being stated as 2nd May 1939 though according to RAF records 4 AOS did not form until November 1939 though there are records of personnel serving with 4 AOS in July 1939. The aircraft was struck off charge on 19th July 1940 and scrapped soon after.

Pilot - F/O John E C G F Gyll-Murray RAF (34105). Of Australia.

+1

+1

+1

John Gyll-Murray in a sunnier place. This is the only photograph I have found on the internet of him, there may well be better ones out there.

I have yet to locate where this aircraft came down.
Of the other lost aircraft, all had trouble finding Finningley. Heyford K6900 would crash into high ground at Chisley, near Hebden Bridge killing three, the pilot surviving. Another crashed near Oldham, another near Gainsborough and two at Disley. Fog was blamed for all the crashes and ice forming on the aircraft was reported which would have effected control. All aircraft were carrying wireless's, none worked when ice formed on the aerials though. This was a bad day for the RAF.

John Gyll-Murray was born on 14th January 1914. His first Unit was 7 Sqdn which he joined on 2nd September 1930, he became a P/O on probation on 22nd September 1933 and a graded P/O exactly a year later. On 1st October 1935 he joined 102 Sqdn, the unit he was serving with when the mishap detailed above took place. He became a F/O on 22nd May 1936. He joined 51 Sqdn on 1st June 1937 and became a flying instructor at 11 FTS on 6th November in the same year. He became a Flt Lt on 22nd May 1938. He would later join 106 Sqdn on 19th February 1940 and 44 Sqdn on 26th April 1940. He bacame an acting Sqdn Ldr on the same date. He would later command 144 Sqdn, 14 OTU, 455 Sqdn, 244 Sqdn and survived the War. His last known posting was at Air Traffic Control Centre at Uxbridge and had previously been awarded the DSO.