This Spitfire collided with Welllington BJ884 whilst taking part in a training exercise on 26th July 1946. The Spitfire is thought not to have dived into the ground after the collision, like the Wellington did but after the impact it limped to the west and crashed killing the pilot. Another Spitfire of 17 SFTS, piloted by Lt Newbold, was also taking part in the exercise; he was able to fly off and was undamaged. At the inquest it was stated that this pilot, F/Lt McAndrew, should have flown at the Wellington head on and then broke away at 250 feet, for some reason he made an error of judgement and the two aircraft collided. The coroner also gave a verdict of "death by misadventure" on this pilot. I do not know the exact location of where the Spitfire came down to be able to include any photographs of the general area of the site. The Yorkshire Air Museum has an excellent account of the incident which is located in their Rear Gunners Room.
Spitfire SL676 was built to contract B981687/39 by Vickers Armstrongs Ltd at Castle Bromwich and was delivered to Cunliffe Owen for modifications on 3rd August 1945 prior to delivery to the RAF. It was delivered to 6 MU at Brize Norton on 29th August 1945 before being transferred to the Central Gunnery School at Catfoss on 30th September 1945. It moved with the unit to Leconfield on 12th November 1945. It was written off as a result of the accident detailed above with Cat.E2/FA damage being the damage assessment. It was struck off charge some days later on 8th August 1946.
Pilot - F/Lt Stanley McAndrew RAF (48716), aged 26. Buried Harrogate Stonefall Cemetery, Yorkshire.
Stanley McAndrew was born at Forgan, Fife in 1920 and was the son of John Cumming Stanley and Isabella Penman (nee Smart) McAndrew. His father died in April 1946 and his mother was living in London at the time. Stanley received a commission to the rank of (emergency) P/O on Probation from F/Sgt on 23rd January 1942 and was promoted to F/O on probation on 1st October 1942. He then rose to F/Lt (War Subs) on 23rd January 1944. He remained in the RAF after the War and at the time of his death he had over 1000 hrs experience as a pilot when he was killed, 450 of which were on the Spitfire.