Hurricane L2009 on Kirkby Malzeard Moor.

On 22nd April 1940 the pilot of this No.6 Operational Training Unit aircraft was undertaking a daytime direction finding exercise when he flew out of range of his base of Sutton Bridge. The weather and visibility over the general area of his base was good but he appears to have flown out of radio contact and into poor weather. When he descended to locate his position he found that he was over the sea, he then climbed and headed on a north-westerly heading from his position over the sea but then became further lost when flying in cloud. He again descended to try and locate his position and realising there was no base to the cloud he was in began to climb but struck the ground before gaining any height. The aircraft crashed on moorland to the west of Kirkby Malzeard. His harness snapped in the crash landing causing him some injuries and managed to walk to a nearby farm house, he was initially taken to Ripon hospital and then released to Dishforth airfield sick quarters.

Pilot - Sgt John Wright RAF (522272). Injured.

John Wright was born in Alloa on 22nd February 1916 and was the son of Robert and Agnes Wright. He recovered from the injuries sustained on 22nd April 1940, completed his training and was posted to 79 Squadron. On 5th September 1940 he was flying Hurricane P3676 when it crashed near Surbiton. He was seriously injured and died the following day. He was twenty four years old and is buried at New Kilpatrick (or Hillfoot) Cemetery, Dunbartonshire, Scotland (D/741). His parents later moved to Kessington, Glasgow.
Hurricane L2009 was built to contract 527112/36 by Hawker Aircraft Ltd at either their Kingston or Brooklands factory and was awaiting collection in June 1939. It was issued to 11 Group Pool at St.Athan in July 1939 and this unit moved to Sutton Bridge on 6th March 1940 and was re-designated 6 OTU. It sustained Cat.W/FA damage in the accident near Ripon and after inspection by 60 MU it was struck off charge.

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