Bristol F.2B Fighter Mk.III J8432 from No.8 Army Co-operation Flight, crashed while trying to take off near Matlock on the 16th July 1928

Bristol Fighter at the Shuttleworth Collection

 

Charles Lilburn Myers Pilot Officer Pilot Uninjured

 

The aircraft was one of the last 30 Bristol Fighters to be built, all 30 being the dual control trainer version, on this occasion the pilot was flying the aircraft solo.  He had force landed the aircraft in a field that today is a part of Matlock Golf Club, he had obviously attempted to fix the problem, most likely a shortage of fuel.  The pilot then attempted to take off again but had not gained enough speed before reaching the edge of the field where the aircraft ploughed through a stone wall across a small track and came to rest crumpled against the wall on the opposite side of the track.

Shortly after this accident P/O Myers was transferred to No.26 Squadron at RAF Catterick and was killed in the Yorkshire Dales on the 6th November 1928 while flying Atlas J9034. In March 1928 he was noted by the RAF list as being with No.5 Flying Training School at Shotwick (Sealand) as a pilot under training.

Crash site of Bristol Fighter J8432 on Matlock Moor, Derbyshire
The aircraft came to rest against the wall in this photo after impacting into the wall just off the left hand side of the photo.
Wreckage at the crash site of Bristol Fighter J8432 on Matlock Moor, Derbyshire the day the aircraft crashed
Above is a photograph that was printed in the Matlock area as a postcard, the original photographer is unknown, the view is similar to that shown above though some of the trees have since been cut down / fallen down.
Crash site of Bristol Fighter J8432 on Matlock Moor, Derbyshire the day the aircraft crashed
A second photograph of the aircraft is shown above, again the original photographer is unknown, this one is looking downhill, the present view is shown below, there have been quite a few changes in the background looking in this direction.

Crash site of Bristol Fighter J8432 on Matlock Moor, Derbyshire