Hurricane V7385 near Nosterfield.
On 19th January 1942 the pilot of this 59 Operational Training Unit aircraft was undertaking a training flight, based at Crosby on Eden near Carlisle their flights usually took place over Cumbria, Northumberland and southern Scotland. Precise details about what happened earlier in the flight are not exactly known. The pilot's casualty file includes the accident report AM765c but the part outlining what happened appears rather mouse-eaten. The pilot appears to have flown into poor weather and became lost, ending up over North Yorkshire the weather worsened. At 12.15hrs the pilot was attempting a force landing near Nosterfield. The landing was a success but the pilot had not done his straps tight and he struck his head on the instrument panel sustaining fatal injuries; he initially taken to the Sick Quarters at Leeming airfield (which was the nearest medical facility) and later to Catterick Military Hospital where he died at 22.30hrs.
Pilot - P/O Roy Reginald Hines RCAF (J/3417), aged 19, Bracebridge, Ontario, Canada. Buried Dagenham (Chadwell Heath) Cemetery, Essex.
Roy Hines was born on 24th October 1922 at Bracebridge, Ontario, Canada and was the son of George Roy and Mary (nee Richmond) Hines. He enlisted into the RCAF straight out of high school on 7th January 1941 in Toronto. After training he was awarded his pilot's flying badge and also a commission on 24th October 1941. He was immediately posted to the UK and to 59 O.T.U. on 19th December 1941. His uncle and aunt lived in Dagenham and was buried there under their arrangements.
Hurricane V7385 was built to contract 62305/39 by The Hawker Aircraft Co. Ltd. at Langley and was awaiting collection in August 1940. By the end of the month it was on charge with 111 Squadron at Debden and saw action in the Battle of Britain. Later in the year it was transferred to 245 Squadron at Aldergrove then in October 1940 back to 111 Squadron who, by now, had moved to Dyce. In April 1941 111 Squadron ceased operating Mk.I Hurricane's and the aircraft was placed in storage before being taken on charge at a later known date by 59 O.T.U. at Crosby on Eden. As a result of the damage on 19th January 1942 it was initially inspected and the assessment of the lesser damage of Cat.M(c)/FA (which was the old term for Cat.A/FA) was given. It was then further assessed on 7th February 1942 and Re.Cat.E and then struck off charge.