FlyPast visits: Yorkshire Air Museum

Editor John Sootheran heads to Elvington in Yorkshire for his monthly fix of all things historic aviation

“Don’t tell anyone, but I can let you have a look inside,” said Simon, the museum volunteer, as I stood ogling Handley Page Halifax II(III) LV907. This impressive aircraft, Friday the 13th, is the centrepiece in Yorkshire Air Museum’s (YAM) main hangar. It has particular resonance for me, as it’s the type my relative, Pilot Officer Arthur George Sootheran of the RCAF, was navigating when he perished, three days after D-Day in 1944. He was 23. That incident, when the inner-starboard engine exploded on final approach to Linton-on-Ouse, (just 14 miles as the bomber flies from here), happened after a successful raid on Mayenne in France. The mission was in support of the Allies’ drive inland from Normandy’s beaches.

Become a Premium Member to Read More

This is a premium article and requires an active Key.Aero subscription to view.

I’m an existing member, sign me in!

I don’t have a subscription…

Enjoy the following subscriber only benefits:

  • Unlimited access to all KeyAero content
  • Exclusive in-depth articles and analysis, videos, quizzes added daily
  • A fully searchable archive – boasting hundreds of thousands of pieces of quality aviation content
  • Access to read all our leading aviation magazines online - meaning you can enjoy the likes of FlyPast, Aeroplane Monthly, AirForces Monthly, Combat Aircraft, Aviation News, Airports of the World, PC Pilot and Airliner World - as soon as they leave the editor’s desk.
  • Access on any device- anywhere, anytime
  • Choose from our offers below