Spitfire K9943 at Church Fenton airfield.
On or just before the date of 11th September 1939 the pilot of this 72 Squadron aircraft made a wheels-up landing in error at Church Fenton. The aircraft suffered severe damage and
it was not repairable on site. No further details other than the accident may have taken place a day or two earlier as the date was when it was
dismantled and removed for repair.
Pilot - Name unknown.
Spitfire K9943 was built to contract 527113/36 by Supermarine Aviation Works (Vickers) Ltd at Woolston and was delivered to 72 Squadron at Church Fenton on 24th April 1939. Cat.R/FA damage
was recorded following the incident above and it was repaired in works at 1 CRU (Civilian repair unit) at Morris Motors Ltd, Cowley. On completion of the repair it was taken
to 6 MU Brize Norton on 13th June 1940. It was then issud to 7 OTU at Hawarden on 17th June 1940 and again damaged (Cat.R/FA) on 30th September 1940 when the undercarriage
was retracted in error whilst on ground at Hawarden. It was taken to AST Ltd (Air Service Training Ltd) at Hamble for repair on 22nd November 1940. On completion of these repairs
it again went to 6 MU, at Brize Norton on 5th February 1941 and was then issued to 5 SofTT at Locking as an instructional airframe, number 3229M, on 13th March 1941.