Hurricane BD859 at Doncaster airfield.
On 8th December 1941 this aircraft was flown by an ATA pilot on a ferry flight with the No.5 Ferry Pilot Pool. The ATA pilot collected the aircraft from Henlow (factory) and was instructed to ferry the aircraft to Sherburn in Elmet airfield. During the flight the weather turned poor the further north she reached and by the time she crossed Doncaster the weather deteriorated rapidly. Unable to located Sherburn in Elmet airfield she turned around and made for Doncaster airfield. While making an approach to land at Doncaster airfield a Lysander began to take off across the landing path of this Hurricane. The pilot successfully made an overshoot and she flew a circuit of the airfield. On making a second approach to land the aircraft stalled as it crossed the airfield boundary and struck the ground hard, breaking the undercarriage legs and damaging most of the front underside of the aircraft. The pilot also sustained minor injuries.
Pilot - Second Officer Faith Margaret Ellen Bennett ATA (W.45). Slightly injured.
Margaret Bennett was born on 12th May 1903 in London, England. Her brother was killed during the First World War (possibly Albert Victor Riddick?). She married film writer Charles Alfred Selwyn Bennett in 1930 in London, he with Alfred Hitchcox in script writing some of his most famous films including The 39 Steps. In the 1930s (and probably the 1920s) she had made a name in being firstly a stage actress and then as a film actress, starring in a number of British films. She and husband Charles emigrated to the USA in March 1937, sailing from Southampton to New York on board the "Normandie" and he then worked for Universal Studies. At the same time as her acting work she also learnt to fly and gained her Royal Aero Club aviator's certificate in the UK and also a flying license in the USA. I have yet to discover what she was doing around the start of WW2 but as she starred in a British film in 1939 she must have returned to the UK to film that. She and Charles Bennett divorced in 1941 but she kept her stage name Faith Bennett throughout her time in the ATA. She joined the ATA in July 1941 and after receiving training had joined No.5 F.P.P. on 6th December 1941. As a result of the mishap to Hurricane BD859 in the Doncaster area on 8th December 1941 she sustained slight injuries and on recovery was posted to the Training Ferry Pool. Following another flying accident in October 1943 she sustained concussion. She left the ATA in July 1945 and married Herbert Henry Newmark in Summer 1946, he had also been an ATA pilot. She died in London in 1969. The British Women Pilots' Association created and still present the Faith Bennett Trophy for female pilots who deserve special merit.
Hurricane BD859 was built to contract B.62305/39 by the Hawker Aircraft Company Ltd. at Langley and was awaiting collection on 28th July 1941. On 2nd August 1941 it was flown to 15 M.U. at Wroughton and was then taken on charge by 247 Squadron on 17th August 1941 at Predannack. On 28th August 1941 it suffered minor Cat.A/FB when struck by flak during an operational flight, the pilot managed to land safely at Morlaix airfield with damage to the oil tank and a wing. It was repaired on site and returned to 247 Squadron. On 17th September 1941 it sustained unspecified Cat.R damage but the 247 Squadron orb is poor for this month and does not mention any damage. It's AM.78 card states that it was assessed by 43 Group D.A. and on 26th September 1941 was transported to 13 M.U. at Henlow for a repair in works. On 22nd November 1941 it was listed as R.A.A.A. (Repaired And Awaiting Allocation). On 8th December 1941 it was collected by the pilot from 5 F.P.P. at Hatfield but crashed at Doncaster airfield. As a result of the damage sustained on 8th December 1941 Cat.R/FA damage was the damage assessment and a week later it was transported by road to Field Aircraft Services Ltd. at Brooklands for a repair in works. It was awaiting collection on 4th April 1942. On 11th April 1942 it was flown to 5 M.U. at Kemble. On 22nd April 1942 it was flown to 82 M.U. (a packing depot) at Lichfield. Three days later it was heading towards the docks en-route docks for shipping abroad. On 14th August 1942 it was taken on charge, in Middle East Command, by 116 M.U.(an Aircraft Assembly Uunit) at Takoradi, Gold Coast. During September 1942 it was taken on charge by 335 Squadron and flown through various landing grounds, (LG 85 and also LG 37 in October 1942, LG 13 and LG 121 in November 1942, later arriving at Mersa Metruh, Egypt in early February 1943. Over the coming months it moved to various locations in North Africa, on 12th February 1943 to Tocra, Libya, on 29th January 1944 to Benina, Libya, on 2nd February 1944 to Tocra and on 1st April 1944 to Bersis, Libya. On 7th September 1944 335 Squadron left for Italy and it appears they left the aircraft behind. It was struck off charge on 27th October 1944.