Blenheim near Great Habton, Malton.

On the 23rd of March 1941 this Blenheim took off from Catterick with three airmen on board to undertake a training flight at night. Whilst in the Malton area the aircraft was seen to do two complete turns in an increasingly steep spiral, the aircraft then crashed at 22.50 hrs just north of Great Habton, to the north west of Malton. All three men were killed. What was puzzling was that the pilots body was found a mile away from the crash site and that he had departed the aircraft before its impact. The siding roof was found to be open when the crash investigation made their report and the pilot was in a habit of flying with his harness unfastened, it was therefore not fully determined as to why he had left the aircraft. It was possible that he had abandoned the aircraft before impact but more likely he was thrown from the aircraft inadvertantly, the aircraft then went out of control with one of the other airmen possibly attempting to take control now the pilot had departed from the plane. The build of the pilot was put at a reason for him not fastening himself in; being only of slight build, he could not reach certain instruments when the harness was fastened, apparently this was why he flew without his harness fastened. As to why the roof was open, this will never be known.

The aircraft was built to contract 527114/36 by Bristol at Filton as a Mk. 1 bomber and issued directly to 139 Sqdn at Wyton in May 1938. On an as yet unspecified date it was recalled to Bristol's for conversion to Mk. 1f status, before the Battle of Britain. It was then issued to 25 Sqdn at North Weald on 13th June 1940 and it moved with unit to Martlesham Heath on 19th June 1940. It returned to North Weald with unit on 1st September 1940. It again moved with unit to Debden on 8th October 1940 and then with unit to Wittering on 27th November 1940. This aircraft was a real Battle of Britain veteran. It was transferred to 68 Sqdn at Catterick on 4th March 1941 only to be written off days later in the incident detailed above on 23rd March 1941.

Pilot - Sgt David Kirkland RAFVR, aged 22, of Ayr, buried Ayr, Scotland. He had gained his Wings in September 1940, and trained at 6 EFTS, 54 OTU and 55 OTU, he had amassed at total of 227 hours flying time at his death, only 28 of these were on the Blenheim and 13 of these being at night.

Air Gunner - Sgt Joseph Forster RAFVR, aged 31, of ? Buried Chislehurst and Sidcup Cemetery, Sidcup, Kent.

Trainee Air Gunner - Sgt David A Taylor RAFVR, aged 22, of Luton, buried Luton General Cemetery, Bedfordshire.

Having gained Mr Easterby's permission to look for the crash site, Ken Reast, Albert Prichard, Dick Barton and myself located the site in December 2006. The aircraft appears to have crashed either on or through the hedge. Small fragments are still to be found at the site; the land is now used as a race-horse gallop. We thank Mr Easterby for allowing us to visit the site and for the information he was able to give in pinpointing the site. Please note that site is on private land and access normally is not allowed.