Hart K5843 at Thornaby (photo via Mr Jim Rutland).
On 17th August 1936 this No.9 Flying Training School aeroplane undershot on landing at Thornaby aerodrome, struck a fence and overturned. The pilot was not hurt. The aircraft suffered minor damage, it was soon repaired.
Pilot - F/Lt Frederic William Charles Shute RAF (32020).
Frederic Shute (pictured above in a highly pixelated photograph found in Flight Magazine) was granted short service commission to the rank of Pilot Officer on probation with effect from and with seniority of 10th April 1931. In March 1932 he was posted to 23 Squadron at Kenley. He was confirmed in the rank of P/O on 10th April 1932 and promoted to F/O on 10th November 1932. He attended a Flying Instructor's course at the Central Flying School in early 1936 and passed out with a "B" class certificate. He was posted to 9 F.T.S. at Thornaby on 30th March 1936 as a flying instructor and in April 1936 rose to F/Lt on 1st April 1936. He was granted a permanent commission in the RAF on 1st June 1936. In early 1937 he was recategorised from "B" class to "A2" class after a course at the CFS, and in April 1938 from "A2" class to "A1" class after a further course. On 1st December 1938 he was promoted to S/Ldr. He took command of 152 Squadron on 2nd October 1939 based at Acklington. As a Gladiator pilot with 152 Squadron he shot down a Heinkel He111 over Druridge Bay on 3rd February 1940. 152 Squadron were converting to Spitfires around the same time. S/Ldr Frederic Shute was killed flying Spitfire K9898 on 29th February 1940 while serving with 152 Squadron. When flying over the sea after his engine failed during a sea search for a missing Gladiator N5646. His body was never found and he is commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial.
Hart K5843 was built to contract 410420/35 by Vickers Ltd at Weybridge and was delivered to No.9 F.T.S. on 6th April 1936. It sustained damage in minor flying accidents on 17th August 1936, 17th February 1938, 16th March 1939, 17th September 1939 that saw Cat.R/FA damage assessments made each time and repairs on site made. On 18th March 1941 it was again damaged but probably sustained Cat.B/FA damage as it was transported to 30 M.U. on 6th April 1941 for repair. It was later issued to HQ Flt SFPP on the 27th November 1941 where it suffered another Cat.R/FA on 19th June 1942. It was then delivered to Air Dispatch for repair on 24th June 1942 and after repair issued to ATA Training Unit, where it was coded "-5" on 15th September 1942. It was finally written off with a Cat.W/FA damage assessment on 31st August 1943 and was struck off charge on 11th September 1943.