Hurricane P3057 at Church Fenton airfield.
On 16th July 1940 the 249 Squadron record book makes brief mention of three incidents to 249 Squadron aircraft on the night of 15th / 16th July 1940 but is very poorly written. After further research one of the incidents occurred to Hurricane P3057 and states that this aircraft struck an "obstacle" while the pilot was attempting to take off at night from Church Fenton airfield at 00.15hrs. The obstacle was a post marking taxying limits. The pilot managed to remain in the air but having damaged the undercarriage he then flew a circuit and landed with the undercarriage retracted. The aircraft sustained damage and was later repaired. The second was to Hurricane P2995 at Copmanthorpe (detailed on its own webpage) and the third was to Hurricane L1715 which crashed on landing at Acklington with the pilot being Sgt H J Davidson who escaped injury.
Pilot - P/O James Reginald Bryan Meaker RAF (42514).
James Meaker was born in Kinsale, Co.Cork in January 1919, he was granted a short service commission in the RAF on 26th June 1939. After a series of non-operational postings he
eventually ended up at 46 Squadron at Digby in March 1940. This posting was only a brief one as on 4th May 1940 he was posted to 263 Squadron at Scapa Flow flying Gladiators before the
unit sailed for Norway to carry out patrols. On 7th June 1940 the squadron withdrew to the UK. He was posted to 249 Squadron at Leconfield towards the end of June 1940. On 27th June 1940 he made a heavy landing at Leconfield in Hurricane P3661 which damaged the undercarriage. On 16th July 1940 P/O Meaker hit an obstacle on a night take off at Church Fenton in Hurricane P3057 of 249 Squadron but escaped unhurt. He would be credited with a number of enemy aircraft as shot down or damaged during the Battle of Britain. On 27th September 1940 he shared a Bf110 but his aircraft, Hurricane P3934, sustained
damage by return fire and although he baled out he was dead by the time he reached the ground at Brightling Park, East Sussex, his aircraft crashed near Dallington, East Sussex.
He was twenty one years old and is buried at West Dean Cemetery, Sussex. He was awarded the DFC after his death on 8th October 1940, the citation reads.. "Pilot Officer Meaker has
shot down at least five enemy aircraft and damaged others. Resolute in attack, with a calm, determined temperament, his leadership has been an example to his squadron."
In 1990 a memorial was erected on the site where he landed.
Hurricane P3057 had a long service history and survived the War, it was built to contract
962371/38/C.23a by the Gloster Aircraft Co. Ltd. at Brockworth and was awaiting collection on
9th March 1940 and flown into MU storage where it remained until 12th June 1940 when it was
issued to 249 Squadron at Leconfield when the unit converted from Spitfire MkI's to Hurricane MkI's.
On 8th July 1940 it moved with this unit to Church Fenton and eight days later suffered this accident
at Church Fenton as detailed above. After inspection Cat.R/FA damage was recorded and it was taken
away and repaired in works. In September 1940 it was issued to 213 Squadron at Tangmere and again
used in the Battle of Britain. On 29th November 1940 it moved with this unit to Leconfield and on 15th
January 1941 with the unit to Driffield but later in the month it went to Hawker Aircraft Ltd.
for a new engine fitted by Rolls Royce and at the same time it was converted to a Mk.II and given a new serial number
BV169. In March 1941 it was issued to 59 OTU at Turnhouse but in August 1941 it transferred to 232 Squadron at Ouston.
On 27th November 1941 it transferred to 615 Squadron at Angle and on 24th January 1942 moved with this unit to Fairwood
Common. On 7th March 1942 it transferred to 496 Squadron (RNZAF) based at Kirton in Lindsey only to move again in July
1942 when it transferred to 3 Squadron at Hunsdon to move with this unit on 14th August 1942 to Shoreham then a week later
with this unit to Hunsdon. On 26th January 1942 it transferred to 245 Squadron based at Charmy Down but 245 Squadron
converted to Typhoon's on 29th January 1943 and BV169 moved to 184 Squadron. On an unknown date in 1943
it was transferred to 56 OTU at Tealing where it remained until the unit disbanded on 5th October 1943 and it
was flown to MU storage and declared surplus to requirements. It was struck off charge as returned to produce
(broken up and returned to its metal components) on 30th November 1945. A real veteran.