Hurricane P2827 at Church Fenton airfield.
At dusk on 9th September 1940 this 85 Squadron aircraft crashed on landing at Church Fenton airfield while the pilot was practicing
dusk landings. He is thought to have been uninjured and the aircraft was later repaired. The aircraft, P2827 is shown above
after repair when it was on charge with 315 Squadron.
Pilot - Sgt Harold Henry Allgood RAF (565462).
Harold Allgood was born in Cambridge in 1915 and joined the RAF as an apprentice rigger in September 1931. He re-mustered as a pilot in 1938 and completed his training in 1940. He
was posted to 85 Squadron when they were based in France in May 1940. On 16th May 1940 he was flying Hurricane L1898 from Lille to Merville and was shot down soon after taking off,
he sustained injuries when the aircraft crashed and overturned and was possibly hospitalized, he only returned to 85 Squadron when they had returned to the UK in July 1940. Having
survived unhurt from the accident at Church Fenton he was posted to 253 Squadron on 28th September 1940. On 10th October 1940 he was flying Hurricane L1928 over Maidstone when the
aircraft crashed into houses on Albion Place in Maidstone, he was sadly killed. He is buried in Grantchester, Cambridge and was twenty five years old. Sadly for his family his brother
Edwin was also killed on active service on 28th May 1942 serving with 120 Squadron. The brothers are buried in the same grave.
Hurricane P2827 was built to contract 962371/38 by Gloster Aircraft Co. Ltd. at Brockworth and was
awaiting collection in January 1940 and then flown into MU storage. It was taken on charge by 145 Squadron
at Croydon in March 1940 when the unit converted to Hurricane's from Blenheim If's. It then transferred
to 238 Squadron at Middle Wallop in June 1940 and to 85 Squadron on an unspecified date. On 9th September
1940 it sustained the damage recorded above and Cat.R/FA damage was recorded. From here it was probably returned to
works factory for repairs and afterwards it was taken on change by 32 Squadron at Acklington at the end of 1940. It
was then transferred to 315 Squadron also at Acklington on 21st January 1941 when the unit formed. It then moved
with this unit to Speke on 13th March 1941 but sustained Cat.W/FA on 7th July 1941 when the aircraft
crashed on approach to land at Speke.