Meteor near Coxwold

On the 9th of Sept 1952 a Meteor crashed near Coxwold. The aircraft was part of a formation of six aircraft which entered cloud, the formation came out of cloud at 13000 feet. This aircraft did not emerge and contact with the pilot failed. The aircraft was seen to dive into the ground at a steep angle and crash near Fox Foot Farm killing the pilot. Wreckage was spread over a wide area with an engine ending up in a deep ditch and not far from the nearby railway line. Low cloud and heavy rain was reported in the area at the time. Helmsley Fire Brigade were called to attend this incident, whilst their tender was leaving the town, the trailer pump detached itself from the engine and crashed through the bridge parapet over the River Rye. The probable cause of the Meteor crashing was put at the pilot loosing control of the aircraft whilst flying in cloud using his instruments. The aircraft took off from Linton on Ouse at 09.45hrs and crashed five minutes later.

Pilot - P/O Colin Petty RAF (578727), aged 26, of Sculcoates, Yorkshire. Buried Newton on Ouse Churchyard, Yorkshire (grave LGA, 11). He was born in Sculcoates on 12th Jan 1926 and was married with two daughters when he was sadly killed.