Defiant L7023 at Church Fenton airfield.
On 26th December 1940 this 54 O.T.U. aircraft suffered from having a tyre burst on landing at Church Fenton airfield, this resulted in the undercarriage collapsing.
Pilot - P/O Michael Foxton Wynne-Willson RAF (89625).
Michael Wynne-Willson later served with 255 Squadron.
Defiant L7023 was built to contract 622849/37 by Boulton & Paul Ltd. at Wolverhampton and was awaiting collection in April 1940 and was initially take on charge
by 5 OTU at Aston Down and operated with them until 1st November 1940 when 5 OTU was re-designated 55 OTU and Defiant training ceased. All Defiants from 5 OTU were
taken on charge by 54 OTU on 25th November 1940. As a result of the mishap on 26th December 1940 Cat.M/FA damage and was repaired on site and retuned to the unit.
54 OTU ceased Defiant training on 16th June 1941 and transferred all it's Defiants to 60 OTU which moved from Leconfield to East Fortune on the same date. On 29th
January 1942 it crashed sustaining Cat.E2/FA damage after a forced landing at Eldershope, Selkirk and was written off.