Hurricane P3267 at Risby Park, Beverley.
On 31st December 1940 this 213 Squadron aircraft was being flown in a snowstorm with five other aircraft of the same squadron when it made a violent turn to port and broke away from the other aircraft. A short time later it dived into the ground and sadly the pilot did not survived the accident which occurred at Risby Park, Beverley at 12.03hrs. Why the aircraft made the violent turn to break away from the other aircraft was never understood though it was assumed he lost his barings in the snow and flew into the ground.
Pilot - Sgt Gordon Downs Bushell MiD RAFVR (745584), aged 24, of Fenny Stratford, Buckinghamshire. Buried Bletchley Cemetery, Buckinghamshire.
His name is recorded as "George Downs Bushell" in the superb "Men of the Battle of Britain" book by Kenneth Wynn who also states the aircraft crashed in Risby Park, Suffolk.
His death registration confirms his name was Gordon and he died in Holderness district, Yorkshire. Although Wynn's book is slightly dated it rarely made such errors.
Gordon Bushell was born in Buckinghamshire in 1916 and after school had initially trained and qualified as a tea-broker. Before his career really got going he joined
the RAFVR in the months before the outbreak of War as a trainee pilot, he was called up when War was declared and completed his pilot training at 6 OTU in May 1940. On
25th May 1940 he was posted to 213 Squadron. During the Batte of Britain he was credited with shooting down three enemy aircraft, in one incident he was flying with other
aircraft in his squadron over the Isle of Wight when his leader was attacked and downed by enemy aircraft but was able to bale out and land in the sea. After shooting
down at least one enemy aircraft he radioed his leader's position who was subsequently rescued. For this he was awarded a Mention in Despatches in November 1940. 213
Squadron were posted to Yorkshire for a "rest" from the main area of the Battle of Britain though this was far from a rest period as the unit was still involved in operational flying.
Hurricane P3267 was built to contract 962371/38 by The Hawker Aircraft Co. Ltd. at Kingston/Brooklands and was awaiting collection on 21st February 1940. After a lengthy period
of MU storage it was taken on charge in May 1940 by 43 Squadron at Wick but on 31st May 1940 it moved with the unit to Tangmere. On 23rd July 1940 unit was detached to Northolt but
on 1st August 1940 returned to Tangmere. On 8th August 1940 it sustained Cat.R/FB when the engine seized after shooting down a Junkers Ju87 over The Channel, P/O Upton force landed
the aircraft at Ford Farm, Whitwell, Isle of Wight and the aircraft was later dismantled and taken back to the factory and repaired in works. On completion of the repair it was
flown to an MU store. In November 1940 it was taken on charge by 213 Squadron at Leconfield and on 31st December 1940 Cat.W/FA damage was recorded following the accident near
Beverley as stated above.