Beaufighter T4798 at Catfoss airfield.
On 8th May 1942 this No.2 (Coastal) Operational Training Unit aircraft suffered a failure of the port engine when the pilot was undertaking a training flight, after it overshot it's first landing at Catfoss the aircraft stalled and spun into ground. It was thought that the aircraft climbed too steeply after the overshoot and had initially overshot because another aircraft was too close to this and was attempting to land in front of this aircraft at the time.
Beaufighter T4798 was built to contract B.41906/39 by The Fairey Aviation Co. Ltd. at Heaton Chapel, Stockport and was awaiting collation in August 1941. The records state that it only served with 2 (C)OTU but the date it was taken on charge by them is not given. As a result of the crash near Catfoss on 8th May 1942 Cat.E2/FA damage was recorded.
Pilot - Sgt Lionel Leslie Cartwright RAFVR (1212379), aged 21, of Smestow, Staffordshire. Buried Swindon Churcyard, Staffordshire.
Wireless Operator / Observer - Sgt Maurice Howard Vincent RAFVR (1181842), aged 20, of Andover. Buried Andover Cemetery, Hampshire.
Maurice Vincent's brother Sgt George Vincent RAFVR (1180892) was also killed in the War, he was serving with 44 Squadron on 8th February 1943 flying in Lancaster W4832 on Ops to the Lorient when the aircraft crashed off the French Coast. His body was never found, he was thirty years old and is commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial.