This information is added by users of ASN. Neither ASN nor the Flight Safety Foundation are responsible for the completeness or correctness of this information.
If you feel this information is incomplete or incorrect, you can
submit corrected information.
Date: | Wednesday 16 April 1941 |
Time: | day |
Type: | De Havilland DH.82A Tiger Moth |
Owner/operator: | 4 EFTS RAF |
Registration: | R4943 |
MSN: | 82851 |
Fatalities: | Fatalities: 1 / Occupants: 1 |
Other fatalities: | 1 |
Aircraft damage: | Destroyed |
Location: | RAF Bellasize RLG, Bellasize, 5 miles East of Howden, East Yorkshire -
United Kingdom
|
Phase: | En route |
Nature: | Military |
Departure airport: | RAF Brough, East Yorkshire (EGNB) |
Destination airport: | RAF Bellasize RLG, Bellasize, 5 miles East of Howden, East Yorkshire |
Narrative:De Havilland DH.82A Tiger Moth MSN 82851 (Gipsy Major #82695); Taken on charge as R4943 at 20 MU RAF Aston Down, Minichinhampton, Gloucestershire 23.2.40. To 4 EFTS RAF Brough, East Yorkshire 24.9.40. To 7 EFTS RAF Desford, Leicestershire 13.11.40; returned to 4 EFTS RAF Brough 13.12.40.
Written off when collided with Tiger Moth N6654 (also of 4 EFTS) and crashed 16.4.41 at RAF Bellasize RLG, Bellasize, 5 miles East of Howden, East Yorkshire. The starboard wings of N6654 struck and cut through the rear fuselage of R4943 and removed its tail. The two trainee pilots (one in each aircraft) lost their lives as a result of the collision. Pilot of Tiger Moth R4943 was Leading Aircraftman Thomas Christopher Sharkey RAFVR (Service Njumber 1286069, aged 28) who was killed.
Deemed as "damaged beyond economic repair" and Struck off charge 22.4.41 as FACE (Flying Accident Cat.E).
RAF Bellasize:
Fields to the south of the village of Bellasize were used by the Royal Air Force (and the Royal Flying Corps) as RAF Bellasize between 1916 and 1919, and 1939–1945. During the First World War, the site was used by Nos 31 and 76 Squadrons in the Home Defence role. During this period, it was noted that the 33 acres (13 ha) site was prone to flooding from the nearby River Ouse. It was pressed back into service during the Second World War as a relief landing ground for No. 4 Elementary Flying Training School, who were based at nearby Brough airfield (to the east). The site had a grass runway which extended to 2,000 feet (610 m).
Sources:
1. Royal Air Force Aircraft R1000-R9999 (James J Halley, Air Britain 1980)
2. Otter, Patrick (1998). Yorkshire airfields in the Second World War. Newbury: Countryside Books. p. 298. ISBN 1-85306-542-0.
3. Delve, Ken (2006). Northern England : Co. Durham, Cumbria, Isle of Man, Lancashire, Merseyside, Manchester, Northumberland, Tyne & Wear, Yorkshire. Ramsbury: Crowood. p.43-44. ISBN 1-86126-809-2.
4. National Archives (PRO Kew) File AIR81/5882:
https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C16755180 5. CWGC:
https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/2735535/thomas-christopher-sharkey/ 6.
https://www.yorkshire-aircraft.co.uk/aircraft/yorkshire/york41/r4943.html 7.
https://air-britain.com/pdfs/production-lists/DH82.pdf 8.
http://www.airhistory.org.uk/dh/p828.html 9.
http://www.rafcommands.com/database/serials/details.php?uniq=R4943 10.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bellasize Revision history:
Date/time | Contributor | Updates |
02-Mar-2022 18:56 |
Dr. John Smith |
Added |
02-Mar-2022 19:07 |
Dr. John Smith |
Updated |
02-Mar-2022 19:12 |
Dr. John Smith |
Updated [Destination airport] |
02-Mar-2022 21:43 |
Nepa |
Updated [Operator, Operator] |