On 1st May 1942 this 43 Squadron aircraft was one of two that were flown on an operational interception sortie, they had taken off from Acklington and had located the enemy aircraft, chased it for some time with full power applied to their engines. Whether or not they were successful in shooting down the enemy aircraft I have not yet ascertained. They must have chased it over towards Lancashire because when they later attempted to cross the Pennines and return to base both Hurricanes ran out of fuel. A problem with the radio transmitter at Catterick prevented them being diverted to land there so both attempted to force land. The leader force landed succesfully, believed to have been in a field in the Bowes area. Exactly where this occurred is not known. It may well be in the same field where the number two aircraft then crashed.
Pilot - Name unknown.
The number two pilot then attempted to also force land his aircraft, Hurricane Z3316, but he was flying too low and his flying speed was also too low. The aircraft was flying at stalling speed just prior to the pilot attempting undershoot and avoid a collision with a stone wall, he attempted to pull the aircraft up to clear the wall but stalled, struck the wall and crashed in the ajoining field at 07.30hrs. The location given was being in a field near Stonebridge Farm, Bowes. The pilot slightly was slightly injured, he was deemed to blame for not force landing in the correct way and was posted to 87 Squadon the following day.