Lysander in Scarborough.

Lysander V9605 nearest the camera.

On the morning of the 4th of June 1941 This Lysander took off from Clifton airfield near York with two pilots on board, the offical reason for the flight was to carry out a photographic exercise at 5000 feet, but after this the aircraft overflew Scarborough shortly after 11.00hrs. The pilot incharge of the aircraft at the time came from the Scarborough area and his parents lived at 20 Lowdale Avenue (near to where the modern Kinderland development now is). The aircraft overflew Lowdale Avenue, it was thought that the pilot was showing his friend and collegue where his parents lived. They were so low that the aircraft clipped the roof of 26 Lowdale Avenue and shortly afterwards, at 11.15hrs, dived into the ground on allotment gardens near Weydale Avenue killing both men instantly. The aircraft sustained Cat E damage. The two on board were:

The aircraft was built to contract 54509/39 by Westland's at Yeovil. It is believed to have been delivered to the RAF in February 1941 but placed in MU storage before being issued to 4 Sqdn at Linton-on-Ouse on an as yet unspecified date. It was destroyed and given Cat W/FA damage in the incident at Scarborough and struck off charge.

Pilot - P/O Geoffrey R G Mould RAF, aged 26, of 20 Lowdale Avenue, Scarborough. Buried Manor Road Cemetery, Scarborough, Yorkshire.

Pilot - P/O William L Theys RAFVR, aged 30, of Bedford, Beds. buried Bedford. Husband of Margaret S J Theys. Living at 75 Reighton Ave, Clifton at the time of his death.

P/O Mould's headstone in a cemetery in Scarborough. He had trained at 8 & 9 EFTS, at the time of his death had 228 hours total flying, 100 of which were on the Lysander, 98 of these were solo on type.

The crash scene. My thanks to Mr Richard Percy for his input in researching this incident and for providing this photograph. Mr Percy has published a number of historial books about Scarborough.

If the house numbers are still the same then the aircraft clipped the roof of this house. The modern owners of which I am sure have no idea of this!

I believe that the aircraft crashed on land where this hotel would be built some years later. My thanks for the owners for contactine me.