A Beaufighter made a wheels-up forced-landing in a field west of Sutton, near Abbotts Close Farm, on the 9th of August 1942 at 16.00 hrs after engine failure. The pilot had little experience on the Beaufighter and it was thought that with better experience he could have made it to an airfield to land the aircraft. After examination it was found that the main bearing of the port engine failed. Fellow aviation researcher Mr Ken Reast tells me that this aircraft made a near perfect landing in the field. The engines were the most damaged parts. It was taken to bits and removed by road to be rebuilt later. Nothing remains in the field where it landed.
The aircraft was built to contract B65570/40 by the Bristol Aeroplane Co. Ltd at it's shadow factory at Weston Super Mare. It was delivered to MU storage in August 1941. After preparation for night-fighter operations it was issued to 25 Sqdn at Ballyhalbert on 31st January 1942, it moved with the unit to Church Fenton on 16th May 1942. It suffered Cat A(c)/FA damage in the incident detailed above on 9th August 1942. The are no details of its repair but it is unlikely to have been repaired on site two Cat.B engines. After repair it was returned to 25 Sqdn at Church Fenton. It transferred for training duties to 51 OTU Cranfield on 20th June 1943 and served with them until being placed in MU storage on an unspecified date. It remained in MU storage for at least 3 years until being struck off charge and 'sold for scrap' on 28th June 1948.
Pilot - Sgt Michael H Griffith RAFVR, of Torquey, Devon. Ok.
Others on board (if any) - unknown.
Sadly less than three months later the pilot was killed on the 7th of November 1942, his 25 Sqdn Beaufighter stalled whilst coming into land at Pocklington airfield. The aircraft crashed beside the canal at Bielby. The pilot, Sgt Griffith, was killed, the navigator had a lucky escape after he was thrown clear. The aircraft burnt out.
Sgt Griffith is buried at Barmby Moor Churchyard, Yorkshire and was still only 20 years old.