Spitfire N3163 at Catterick airfield.
On 23rd January 1940 on return from a coastal shipping patrol off Scarborough this 41 Squadron aircraft hit a concrete mixer on landing at Catterick. Information is vague as the incident
is not recorded in squadron records. It was repaired.
Pilot - P/O Ronald Walter Wallens RAF (79708).
Ronald Wallens was born in the Stourbridge area of Worcestershire in 1916. He joined the RAFO having been granted a short service commission as Acting P/O on probation in
Summer 1937. After completing pilot training he was posted to 41 Squadron on 26th March 1938 and was granted a commission in the RAF on 7th October 1938 as P/O rising to F/O
on 7th July 1940 and to F/Lt exactly a year later. On 6th September 1940 he sustained injuries in combat with a Bf109, he rejoined 41 Squadron after hospital treatment but
his commanding officer rejected him as he was not fully fit. He later commanded No.1 ADF and was promoted to S/Ldr on 1st July 1943 and was posted to Command 277 (ASR) Squadron
in late 1943. For service with this unit he was awarded the DFC (Gazetted on 15th August 1944), the citation for the award reads.. "In the early phases of the war, Squadron
Leader Wallens took part in a large number of sorties during which he destroyed at least 4 enemy aircraft. In combat in September 1940 he was wounded in the leg by a cannon
shell. Since his return to operational duties he has undertaken many air/sea sorties and has been responsible for saving a number of personnel from the sea. He has set a
splendid example of gallentry and devotion to duty." He survived the War and wrote his autobiography "Flying Made My Arms Ache". He died in November 1995. He was one of three
pilots that shot down a Junkers Ju88 on the North Yorkshire Moors on 11th August 1940 detailed on this website.
Spitfire N3163 was built to contract 527113/36 by Vickers Armstrong's (Supermarine) Ltd at Woolston and was first test flown on 7th
November 1939. It was then delivered to 24 MU at Ternhill on 10th November 1939 who issued it to 41 Squadron
at Catterick on 24th December 1939. It then moved with the unit to Wick on 19th October 1939 and then back
to Catterick on 25th October. Following the incident detailed above Cat.M/FA damage was recorded, it was repaired on site and
returned to the unit. It then moved with the unit to Hornchurch on 28th May 1940 and then back to Catterick on 8th JUne 1940 and then
back to Hornchurch 26th July 1940. 41 Squadron left Hornchurch for Catterick again on 8th August 1940 but the left N3163 behind,
it was then taken on charge by 65 Squadron (also based at Hornchurch) on that date. They then took it to Turnhouse on 28th August
1940 and then to Tangmere on 29th November 1940. For an as yet unspecified reason to AST Ltd at Hamble on 9th December 1940
for repairs and on completion of repairs it went to 37 MU at Burtonwood (ASU) on 3rd March 1941 where it remained for five
months until issued to 57 OTU at Hawarden on 1st August 1941. On 15th November 1941 it hit a flock of seagulls but the pilot
was able to land safely at Hawarden and Cat.M/FA damage was recorded. Again it was repaired on site, which commenced on 19th November
and was returned to unit on 22nd November 1941. It then moved with the unit to Eshott on 10th November 1942. On 4th June 1943 it
collided with Spitfire X4896 on the runway at Eshott and sustained Cat.B/FA damage. On 15th June 1943. it was sent away to be
repaired in works but the location is not specified. Repairs were complete and it was awaiting collection on 4th September 1943.
It then passed to 39 MU at Colerne on 17th September 1943 and was issued to 53 OTU at Kirton in Lindsey on 26th October 1943. On 10th
March 1944 the engine failed in the circuit at Hibaldstow (Kirton's satellite) and it crashed in an attempted forced landing.
Cat.E/FA damage being recorded and it was written off. The pilot on this occasion being injured.