Spitfire N3281 at Leconfield airfield.
On 12th April 1940 the undercarriage of this 234 Squadron aircraft failed to lower properly and remained un-noticed by the pilot who landed at Leconfield as normal. The undercarriage collapsed on touching down but the damaged aircraft was later repaired.
Pilot - P/O Keith Ashley Lawrence RNZAF (42133), of Waitara, New Zealand.
Keith Lawrence was born in November 1919, he sailed for RAF training in Britain in February 1939 and completed this training in November 1939 and later joined 234 Squadron
In the weeks after the incident detailed above he was posted to 603 Squadron and then 91 Squadron where he served during the Battle of Britain. On 27th November 1940
he was pilot of Spitfire P7499 which was shot down by a Bf109 off Ramsgatehe bailed out over the sea and was later picked up by a passing minesweeper. It took him some
months to recover from his injuries and he later returned to 91 Squadron in January 1942. He was later
posted to 185 Squadron to take part in the defence of Malta which has been well documented. He commanded 185 Squadron during this period and on his posting back to
the UK he was awarded the DFC in September 1942. After the War he returned to his home country before settling back in the UK to enjoy his retirement.
Spitfire N3281 was built to contract 527113/36 By Vickers Armstrong's (Supermarine) Ltd at Woolston and was first test flown on 9th January 1940. It was delivered
to 24 MU at Ternhill on 19th January 1940 and issued to 234 Squadron at Leconfield on 16th March 1940. In the incident detailed above it sustained Cat.R/FA damage and was
inspected by 60 MU. It was then dismantled and transported to AST Ltd. at Hamble for repair on 23rd April 1940. On 10th July 1940 on completion of the repairs it was
delivered to 8 MU at Little Rissington and on 14th July 1940 it was issued to 5 OTU at Aston Down. It later transferred to 7 OTU at Hawarden on 21st Alril 1940 and was
involved in an unspecified Cat.A(c)FA mishap on 21st September 1940 presumably at Hawarden. From here it was taken to Scottish Aviation Ltd, at Prestwick for repair on
1st October 1940. On 9th December 1940 on completion of these repairs it was issued to 12 MU at Kirkbride and then issued to 61 OTU at Heston on 4th July 1941. On 24th
July 1941 it went to AST Ltd, at Hamble for conversion to a Mk.Va and was awaiting collection at Hamble on 3rd January 1942. On 26th January 1942 it passted to 6 MU at
Brize Norton for long term storage. It later transferred to the FAA and was delivered to RNDA Yeovilton on 4th September 1942 and issued to 885 Squadron FAA at Lee on Solent
in September 1942 but on 22nd September 1942 it suffered Cat.S/FA damage at Machrihanish when the wheels sank into soft ground whilst taxiing in gusty winds. It was repaired on
site and returned to the unit. It later transferred to 880 Squadron FAA at Ballyhalbert on 29th November 1943 and then transferred to 899 Squadron FAA at Sydenham in
February 1944 before finally being transferred to 761 Squadron FAA at Henstridge in July 1944. Nothing more is known of the aircraft after November 1944.