Spitfire L1036 at Leconfield airfield.
On 11th March 1940 this 616 Squadron aircraft was being taxied at Leconfield when a tyre burst, the aircraft tipped up onto its nose and the damage was soon repaired.
Pilot - P/O Herbert Keith Laycock RAF (40925).
Herbert Laycock was granted a commission in the RAF in May 1938 and was posted to 616 Squadron in September 1939. On 1st June 1940 he was credited with damaging a Heinkel He111. he was posted to 79 Squadron in July 1940 and then to 87 Squadron in October 1940 flying through the Battle of Britain. While serving with 603 Squadron he was killed on 26th August 1943 and is buried in Athens, Greece.
Spitfire L1036 was built to contract 527113/36 by Vickers Armstrong's (Supermarine) Ltd at Woolston and was first test flown on 28th June 1939. It was delivered to 611 Squadron
at Speke on 30th June 1939 and coded "GZ-N". It moved with the unit to Duxford on 13th August 1939 and during this period it was re-coded "FY-N". It then moved again with the unit
to Digby on 10th October 1939 and then transferred to 616 Squadron based at Leconfield on 13th February 1940. It then moved with the unit to Catfoss on 23rd
February 1940 and back to Leconfield on 9th March 1940. Following the incident detailed above Cat.M/FA damage was recorded and it was repaired on site. It then moved with the
unit to Rochford on 27th May 1940 and then back with the unit to Leconfield on 6th June 1940 and then again with the unit to Kenley on 19th August 1940 and with the
unit to Coltishall on 3rd September 1940. On 16th September 1940 it ran out of fuel chasing a Ju88 and was forced to ditch twenty miles off Cromer, Norfolk at 10.40hrs with the
then pilot one Sgt T C Iveson (128539) being rescued. Cat.W(m) damage being recorded on the aircraft.