Hurricane N2470 near Leconfield.
On 18th April 1940 the pilot of this 245 Squadron aircraft appears to have been flying a training flight in the Leconfield area, possibly with him practicing taking off and landing. At 21.00hrs during the third landing at Leconfield the engine cut out, the aircraft lost height and while the pilot was trying to force-land in a field it struck a tree around 400 yards from the perimeter of Leconfield aerodrome. The aircraft then crashed and the pilot received cuts and bruises. The aircraft was badly damaged and was not repaired, 60 MU recovered the aircraft on 21st April 1940.
Pilot - P/O Kevin Laverty RAF (41935). Injured.
Kevin Laverty was granted a commission in the RAF on 15th April 1939 as Acting P/O on probation, he was then graded as P/O on probation on 6th November 1939 and was then
confirmed as P/O on 6th February 1940. He was promoted to F/O on 6th November 1940, F/Lt (war subs) on 6th November 1941 and to S/Ldr (temp) on 5th February 1943. He remained
in the RAF after the war until at least February 1954 when he extended his service by another five years.
Hurricane N2470 was built to contract 751458/38 by Hawker Aircraft Ltd. at either their Kingston or Brooklands factories. It was allotted to 19 MU on 27th November 1939 and delivered to them on 8th January 1940. It was taken on charge by 245 Squadron at Leconfield on 15th March 1940. Cat.W/FA damage was recorded following the incident detailed above following inspection by 60 MU on 21st April 1940 and it was struck off charge and "reduced to produce".