On 21st March 1941 the pilot of this 56 OTU aircraft force landed in a small field on the "lower slopes of Latterbarrow", near Hawkshead. The accident record card (Form AM1180) for what we believe relates to this incident near Hawkshead states that the pilot was undertaking a training flight when he flew out of range of the radio and eventually became lost in poor weather. Running out of fuel he made a forced landing in a small field.

The aircraft's identity on both the AM1180 and also in the 56 OTU record book lists the aircraft as being "Hurricane 318" and for many years I had been unable to work out the true identity of the aircraft involved assuming the aircraft would be an RAF aircraft. Having looked at service histories of all UK Hurricanes that carried the "318" digits for the last three numbers there were no aircraft that could really fit for having been damaged on this date or with 56 OTU at the time. It was finally discovered that the aircraft had been one of a small number of aircraft built for Canada and it had flown in Canada in 1939 under their military designation of Hurricane 318. The aircraft was actually built in the UK as Hurricane L1881 but it's serial then changed when it joined the RCAF.

Hurricane L1881 was built to contract 527112/36 by Hawker Aircraft Ltd. at either the Kingston or Brooklands factories and was awaiting collection in January 1939. This was the first production batch of MkI Hurricanes. L1881 was one of twenty that was then dismantled and shipped to Canada arriving in May 1939. Of this production batch some were sent to Yugoslavia, some to Romania, some to Belgium, some to South Africa, some to Turkey and one to Iran. After re-assesmbly in Canada L1881 was taken on charge by No.1 Squadron RCAF at Trenton and given the Canadian serial "318". On 9th June 1940 No.1 Squadron RCAF embarked for the UK arriving 19th June 1940 but their aircraft had been shipped to the UK earlier than that. On 18th June 1940 it was taken on charge by 13 MU Henlow for assembly and testing and seven days later it was returned to the care of No.1 Squadron RCAF who were then based at Middle Wallop. The squadron then moved to Croyden on 3rd July 1940 but around this time it was deemed that this batch of early Hurricanes were not front line serviceable so were withdrawn to training units. On 2nd August 1940 the aircraft was taken on charge by 6 OTU at Sutton Bridge who then charged there designation to become 56 OTU on 1st November 1940. The aircraft was never repained with the former RAF serial of L1881 and continued to fly as "318". On 16th December 1940 the aircraft was flown to 13 MU at Henlow for some minor work, probably modifications. It was returned to 56 OTU at Sutton Bridge on 9th January 1941. As a result of the forced landing near Hawshead on 21st March 1941 Cat.W/FA damage was the damage assessment and it was then struck off charge ten days later. It is listed as having flown 325 hours up until being written off but I have not learnt if this was including the time it was in Canada.

Pilot - P/O Bertram Augustus "Mick" Grace RAAF (402053), of Elizabeth Bay, New South Wales, Australia.

Bertram "Mick" Grace was born in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia on 29th April 1912 and when he enlisted into the RAAF on 29th April 1940 he listed his occupation as being a company director. This not the full story, he was a very successful businessman. He was the son of one of the two Grace brothers; A.E. and J.N. Grace, who had emigrated to Australia from Buckinghamshire, England and set up a drapery and eventually a department store chain of shops "Grace Bros". Bertram Grace opened his own shops across Australia in 1938. Having enlisted for RAAF service and undertaken basic training he received a commission to the rank of P/O on probation on 19th November 1940. After arriving in the UK he trained at 56 OTU from 17th February 1941 he was posted to 258 Squadron on 31st March 1941 also flying the Hurricane. In September 1941 he was posted to 453 Squadron and was posted to Singapore and Malaya with the unit to fly against the Japanese. In March 1942 he was posted to 76 RAAF Squadron. By September 1942 he was posted back to Australia to serve in various training units, receiving a DFC, Gazetted on 26th March 1943. He later flew with and commanded 82 RAAF Squadron in 1944 and 1945 but was discharged in September 1945. He returned to his family business after the war and the company was very successful, being sold after his death for $212 million. He died in March 1982.

Ade Harris surveyed a likely area for a forced landing and the only place that could really have been considered for a safe landing would be these green fields.

I thank Graham Sharpe and members of the Air Britain history webforum for their input in recording the aircraft's history.