Anson K6152 at Catterick airfield.
Anson K6152.
On 13th October 1939 this 220 Squadron aircraft was being ferried away from 220 Squadron to be borrowed by 219 Squadron at Catterick. 219 Squadron had only just formed and were still awaiting any of their own aircraft to arrive so borrowed a Blenheim from 64 Squadron at Church Fenton and were to borrow two 220 Squadron Ansons. The pilot attempted a landing at Catterick on this rather small grass fighter airfield. The aircraft was not fitted with flaps, in no wind and also in wet conditions the aircraft could not stop on the grass available, it ran through the boundary hedge and was damaged aircraft beyond economical repair. It was the first production Anson, it made its first flight on 31st December 1935 and after a period of evaluation passed to 220 Squadron.
Pilot - P/O George Edward Thomas Scrase RAFVR (90675).
Anson K6152 was the first production Anson aircraft, it was built to contract 421119/35 by A.V.Roe Ltd at Woodford and was delivered to A&AEE at Martlesham Heath for the first time on 13th April 1935 for performance tests. It was issued to a unit named Coastal Area, at Gosport, for Service trials on 13th May 1935 and then returned to A.V.Roe Ltd at Woodford for modifications on 20th June 1935. It was then returned to A&AEE at Martlesham Heath on 26th June where it carried out stability and control trials. It again returned to A.V.Roe Ltd at Woodford for further modifications on 9th July 1935 then returned to A&AEE at Martlesham Heath on 29th July for handling trials. It again went back to A.V.Roe Ltd at Woodford on 8th August 1935 for further modifications and then returned to A&AEE at Martlesham Heath on 8th October 1935. It was then transferred to RAE Farnborough on 10th May 1936 for oscillation tests and returned to A.V.Roe Ltd at Woodford for modifications on 16th May 1936, it then went back to A&AEE at Martlesham Heath on 22nd May 1936 for consumption trials. On an unknown date in January 1938 it was transferred to RAE Farnborough for Cheetah engine trials and radio tests. It again returned to A.V. Roe Ltd at Woodford on 30th March 1938 for further modifications. It returned to A&AEE at Martlesham Heath on 12th December 1938 for Browning machine gun trials and then back to RAE Farnborough on 3rd January 1939 for further engine tests and camouflage trials. On 26th May 1939 it entered operational service with 220 Squadron and then moved with the unit to Thornaby on 21st August 1939. It suffered Cat.W/FA damage in the incident at Catterick on 13th October 1939, deemed beyond repair and written off.
The pilot of Anson K6152 when it crashed at Catterick on 13th October 1939 serving with 219 Squadron. George Scrase would serve with 600 Squadron during the Battle of Britain and his RAF service has been fairly well recorded. Having initially served with 600 Squadron in 1938 he was posted to 219 Squadron at Catterick on 6th October 1939 to convert to fly the Blenheim type. On 27th October 1939 he left 219 Squadron and rejoined 600 Squadron two days later. He would serve with them throughout the Battle of Britain. Having left for service elsewhere he returned to them in 1941. S/Ldr Scrase died on 28th September 1941 while flying Beaufighter R2306. He had earlier been given a Mention in Despatches. He was cremated at Golders Green, London.