Buffalo AS414 at Church Fenton airfield.
On 28th October 1940 the pilot of this 71 Squadron aircraft applied the brakes too hard at Church Fenton airfield and the aircraft overturned.
Pilot - P/O Philip Howard Leckrone RAFVR (84653), of Salem, Illinois, USA.
Philip Leckrone was born in 1912 in Salem and was already a pilot before arriving in the UK in early 1940 to enlist into the RAF. After
training at 7 OTU he was posted to 616 Squadron in early September 1940. He arrived at 71 Squadron on 12th October 1940. On 5th
January 1941 he was undertaking a formation flying exercise when his aircraft collided with another of 71 Squadron over Lincolnshire.
Sadly he was killed and is buried in Kirton in Lindsey Burial Ground, Lincolnshire. He was twenty eight years old. He was 71 Squadron's
first fatal casualty.
Buffalo AS414 was built by the Brewster Aeronautical Corporation at Long Island City, New York and was shipped in a
dis-assembled state to the UK on H.M.S. Furious from Halifax, Nova Scotia, arriving at Liverpool in August 1940. It
was then transported by road to 37 MU at Burtonwood for assembly and test flying. It was taken on charge by 71 (Eagle)
Squadron at Church Fenton on 24th October 1940 but sustained Cat.W/FA damage four days later at the airfield as recorded
above.