The Story of First Officer Alexander Leslie-Melville Air Transport Auxiliary and Hurricane AG680

The Last Flight of Hurricane AG680 | The Story of Alexander Ronald Leslie-Melville Air Transport Auxiliary On 12 June 1942, a Hawker Hurricane fighter aircraft disappeared into thick cloud above the Yorkshire Dales. Moments later, gamekeepers working near Keld in Upper Swaledale heard a loud impact followed by an explosion echoing across the hills. The aircraft was Hurricane AG680. Its pilot was First Officer Alexander Ronald Leslie-Melville of the Air Transport Auxiliary. This documentary tells the remarkable true story of a man who refused to give up his dream of flying. Born into a distinguished military family with connections stretching back through Britain's nobility, Alexander overcame serious health challenges, military rejection, personal tragedy, and a life-changing car accident to continue serving his country during the Second World War. Flying alone through poor weather over the Pennines, he became lost in cloud before crashing into the remote hillside of Great Sled Dale near Keld. More than eighty years later, his story remains a powerful reminder of the courage and sacrifice of the men and women of the Air Transport Auxiliary, whose vital wartime work often took place far from the front lines. This film explores: ✈️ The life of Alexander Ronald Leslie-Melville ✈️ The history of Hawker Hurricane AG680 ✈️ The role of the Air Transport Auxiliary during WWII ✈️ The events of 12 June 1942 ✈️ The crash site at Great Sled Dale, Yorkshire Dales ✈️ The legacy of a forgotten wartime pilot Produced by Teesdale Aviation Day, preserving and sharing the stories of those who flew over the hills and valleys of Teesdale, Swaledale and the North Pennines. "They shall mount up with wings as eagles." #HurricaneAG680 #HawkerHurricane #WW2History #ATA #AirTransportAuxiliary #YorkshireDales #Swaledale #AviationHistory #MilitaryHistory #RAFHistory #TeesdaleAviationDay #ForgottenHeroes #WorldWar2 #HistoricAviation #AlexanderLeslieMelville