Battle L5620 between Filey and Bridlington.

On 7th October 1940 this aircraft lost its engine coolant fluid while on a target towing flight off the North Yorkshire coastline. The Polish pilot effected a good forced-landing in a field at White Hill, between Filey and Bridlington and not far from where the Junkers Ju88 had crashed some weeks previously. As can be seen in the photograph shown below the damage was minimal and the Battle was repaired on site and flown out of the field. The pilot's name has yet to be found.

Pilot - Name unknown, uninjured.

Battle L5629 had an interesting history, it was built to contract 540408/36 by The Austin Motor Compnay Ltd, at Longbridge and was delivered to 36 MU at Sealand on 26th April 1940. It was transferred to 6 MU at Brize Norton on 4th May 1940 and then taken on charge by the AASF at Chateau Polignac, France on 10th May 1940. It was issued to 98 Squadron at Chateau Bougon on 18th May 1940 and then evacuated with 98 Squadron to Gatwick on 15th June 1940. It was then taken on charge by 12 Squadron at Binbrook on 17th July 1940 but was soon transferred to 103 Squadron at Newton on 27th July 1940. It sustained Cat.M/FA as a result of the incident near Bridlington as stated above on 7th October 1940. It was repaired on site and returned to the unit later the same month. It was transferred to 3 Group TTF at Marham on 4th April 1941 and then to 5 Group TTF at Coningsby on 23rd August 1941 and later to Western Area Wing at Andover on 12th December 1941. It was later flown to 9 MU at Cosford on 25th February 1942 to be placed into storage then on 20th April 1942 it was packed to be transferred to the RAAF on 31st May 1942 and shipped to Australia on an unknown date. On 13th November 1942 it was assembled at Ansett, Victoria, Australia. On 21st March 1943 it passed to 2 Aircraft Depot, Richmond and on 6th April 1943 it was taken on charge by 1 OTU RAAF at Bairnsdale, Victoria. On 22nd April 1943 it moved with the unit to East Sale. On 3rd September 1943 it was deemed beyond repair when it was struck on the ground by Beaufort A9-240 at East Sale. On 22nd September 1943 it was taken to The Central Recovery Deport at 7 Aircraft Depot, Tocumwal where the aircraft was struck of charge on 27th October 1943.