On the 28th of December 1940 this aircraft and another of the same squadron
were undertaking a training exercise when they collided at 12,000 feet, this
aircraft cut through the tail section of the other one. The pilot of this aircraft was new to the squadron. He made a practice attack on the
other aircraft but struck the tail of the other aircraft slicing it off. His aircraft had damage to its canopy and had flattened its tail fin.
Where as the other aircraft went into a spin, this aircraft did not, it remained in level flight for a time allowing the pilot to bale out. The aircraft
then crashed into the bank of the River Leven at Red Hall Farm, Kirklevington. The pilot escaped serious injuries.
Pilot - Sgt C Howard Squire RAF (968401), of Wallasey, Cheshire. Ok.
The aircraft was built to contract 19713/39 by Supermarine at Woolston and after acceptance by MU was issued to 54 Sqdn in December 1940.
It sustained Cat W/FA in this incident above.
On 7th December 1940 he was the pilot of a Spitfire which suffered damage at Catterick. On 26th February 1941 Sgt Squires became a PoW on his first operational
trip of the War when Spitfire P7443 was shot down by flak.