Not much is yet known about the reasons for this aircraft being in the Caldbeck area on 24th March 1942 prior to it being force landed after the engine cut out and that the pilot made a belly landing in a field (believed to have been) near Brownrigg Hall Farm. The aircraft appears to have been repaired on site and flown out of the field back to Crosby on Eden. As this farm is very close to the Lake District National Park boundary where this aircraft force landed may well be just outside of where the National Park boundary was later created.
Pilot - Name unknown.
Battle L5769 was built to contract 540408/36 by The Austin Motor Company Ltd. at Longbridge and was flown to 27 MU at Shawbury on 16th July 1940. After acceptance and a brief period of storage it was taken on charge by 6 OTU on 14th September 1940 at Sutton Bridge. On 29th April 1941 an undercarriage leg jammed prior to a landing so the then pilot made a belly landed at Sutton Bridge and the aircraft sustained damaged deemed as being Cat.M after assessment. It was repaired on site and then transferred to 59 OTU on 29th July 1941 base at Crosby on Eden. As a result of the forced landing near Caldbeck on 24th March 1942 minor Cat.A/FA damage was recorded and it was repaired on site and it was flown out. While still serving with 59 OTU on 2nd July 1942 the undercarriage jammed again and it was belly landed by the then pilot at Crosby on Eden airfield. The damage was again assessed and it was deemed to have sustained Cat.B/FA damage but does not appear to have been repaired as it was later taken on charge by No.2 School of Technical Training at Cosford and was converted into ground instructional airfield 3907M. After this nothing more of the aircraft is known.
The location of where this incident occurred in the Lake District has not yet been found. If you can assist please contact me
HERE. Thank you.
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