29th April, 1945. NA Harvard near RAF Calveley

Royal Air Force North American NA-16 Harvard IIb, KF205 of No 11 (P)AFU from RAF Calveley piloted Flight Officer Bannister came down in heavy snow just beyond the airfield on the 29th April, 1945.

Bannister was flying the Harvard in a formation exercise when they were recalled to base. On his approach to Calveley he ran into heavy snow. He tried to keep the airfield in sight, however whilst carrying out a very steep turn his artificial gorizon and direction indicators were toppled and stopped working. With no instruments left to fly on, Bannister lost control and bailed out. He survived, landing in Wrexham uninjured, the Harvard however was destroyed.