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

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.

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.

Below 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.

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.

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