Blenheim L6626 at Catterick airfield.
On the night of 12th / 13th November 1940 the pilot of this 600 Squadron aircraft was making a night landing at Catterick when the aircraft was damaged but nothing relating to
how this was done is currently known.
Pilot - Sgt Anthony Victor Albertini RAF(AAF) (800544).
Sgt Albertini was a member of the pre-War auxillery airforce. After training in late-1939 he joined 600 Squadron in August 1940. He was badly
injured in his right eye with 263 Squadron after a clay pidgeon shooting accident on 6th November 1941 and was transferred to 137 Squadron while
he was recovering from his injuries. This injury probably put paid to his flying days but he saw the War out and left as a F/Lt in 1946 (119844).
Blenheim L6626 was built to contract 588371/36 by A.V. Roe Ltd, at Chadderton and was awaiting collection in October 1938. During 1939 it was taken on
charge by AAEE at Martlesham Heath but on 9th September 1939 it passed into MU store when AAEE moved from Martlesham Heath to Boscombe Down. In November 1939
it was taken on charge by 92 Squadron at Tangmere when the unit re-formed and on 30th December 1939 it moved with this unit to Croydon. In March 1940 it
tranferred to 604 Squadron at Northolt when 92 Squadron converted to Spitfires. On an unknown date in 1940 it transferred to 600 Squadron and on 13th
November 1940 sustained Cat.M/FA damage at Catterick as recorded above. It was repaired on site and returned to the unit but was then transferred to
219 Squadron at Redhill in December 1940 (but probably never arrived there as 219 Squadron were in the process of converting to Beaufighters at the time.)
Also in December 1940 it was taken on charge once again by 600 Squadron at Catterick but in February 1941 it passed to MU store when 600 Squadron
completed there conversion to Beaufighters. On 26th July 1941 it was taken on charge by 51 OTU at Debden when the unit formed. In 1942 it transferred
to 60 OTU at East Fortune and on 24th November 1942 it transferred to 132 OTU at East Fortune when the unit formed. In February 1943 it was converted
to a ground instruction airframe 3543M. Nothing more is known after this date.