32 Sqn Pilot was Pilot Officer Basil Douglas John Broadway
3 aircraft from the Sqn had been entered in the RAF Race at Lympne for the Air League Challenge Cup on 1st Oct 1924. Three Sqns were in the race all equipped with Snipes (25 Sqn (Hawkridge), 32 Sqn (Kenley) and 56 Sqn (Biggin Hill))
The Times for 2nd Oct 1924 has the following report of the accident
“The Leader of 32 Sqn (Kenley) apparently brought the flight in to land to far up the aerodrome, saw rough ground and opened up to rise and clear the telegraph wires. Two of the three were successful, but Pilot Officer B.D.J. Broadway found he could not get enough height and faced with the alternative of crashing into the road and some houses across the road or with luck being able to turn at right-angles back to the aerodrome, look the latter course. Unfortunately, he had to turn so steeply that his port wing hit the ground and crumpled up the machine, apparently spinning around, breaking half the telegraph wires and carrying away ten yards or more of the aerodrome fence and its undercarriage. By some miracle t came to rest right-side up and as the Red Cross ambulance dashed to the spot, the pilot was seen calmly walking across the aerodrome. A reserve machine was available Pilot-Officer Broadway quietly got in and flew the race as if nothing had happened.”
32 Sqn actually were first back in the race (then 56 Sqn) and finally 25 Sqn but 25 Sqn won as the first two failed to identify one of the race targets correctly
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