Spitfire K9850 at Catterick airfield.
On 28th March 1940 this 41 Squadron aircraft was on the ground and at a dispersal point at Catterick airfield when it was struck by an unidentified 219 Squadron Blenheim. The Spitfire was later repaired.
Pilot - Name unknown, if any.
Spitfire K9850 was built to contract 527113/36 by Vicker Armstrong's (Supermarine) Ltd at Woolston, it was first test flown on 20th January 1939 and delivered
to 41 Squadron at Catterick six days later. It moved with the unit to
Wick, Scotland on 19th October 1939 and then back down to Catterick with the unit on 25th October 1939. In the incident
detailed above Cat.R(b)/GA was recorded after assessment by 60 MU on 1st April 1940. It was dismantled and transported
to AST Ltd, Hamble on 6th April 1940. On completion of repair it was taken to 24 MU at Ternhill on 4th August 1940 and then
issued to 266 Squadron at Hornchurch on 17th August 1940 and used in the Battle of Britain. On 18th August it suffered
Cat.R/FB damage when parked at Manston and damaged in a strafing attack by Bf109's. Again it was dismantled and
transported to AST Ltd, Hamble on 22nd August 1940. On completion of these repairs it went to 9 MU at
Cosford on 5th November 1940 and later issued to 58 OTU at Grangemouth on 29th December 1940. On 24th February 1941 it suffered
damage of Cat.R/FA at Grangemouth when the aircraft struck a pole on approach to land damaging the undercarriage
which then collapsed when the aircraft landed. From here it was dismantled and transported to Scottish Aviation Ltd
at Prestwick on 3rd March 1941 and on completion of these repairs it went to 45 MU at Kinloss on 24th April 1941. It was
then passed to 53 OTU at Heston on 17th July 1941 and collected by a 4 FPP pilot for transfer but
on take off at Kinloss the undercarriage jammed partially retracted. The pilot flew the aircraft to Prestwick
and made a wheels up landing and Cat.R/FA was again recorded. It again went to Scottish Aviation Ltd, at Prestwick
who collected it for repair on 31st July 1941. On completion of the repair it again went to 45 MU at
Kinloss on 19th August 1941 and again issued to 53 OTU at Heston on 23rd September 1941 and made it there this time.
For unspecified reasons but most probably after another flying accident it again went to
AST Ltd, at Hamble on 13th November 1941 where it remained until being ferried to 38 MU at
Llandow on 9th March 1942. It remained in storage until issued to 53 OTU, now at Llandow on 2nd July 1942. On 28th March
1943 it suffered Cat.E2/FA damage after it collided with Spitfire K9862 and crashed at Flemington Court Farm, Glamorgan.