Spitfire P9558 at Hackforth, Catterick.
On 25th October 1940 the pilot of this 54 Squadron aircraft baled out safely due to it suffering engine failure while on practice dog fight over North Yorkshire. The aircraft crashed near Round Hill Farm, Hackforth; to the south west of Catterick at around 17.55hrs.
Pilot - Sgt Jack Frankland Cooper RAFVR (754709).
Jack Cooper was killed on 10th March 1941 flying 54 Squadron Spitfire P7371 over France. He has no known grave and is commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial.
Spitfire P9558 was built to contract 980385/39 by Vickers Armstrong's (Supermarine) Ltd at Woolston and was
first test flown on 14th May 1940. It was allocated to a Turkish contract and converted for use by the Turkish
Air force and then test flown again on 21st June 1940 but on 25th June 1940 it was flown to 9 MU at Cosford for
storage. It was not supplied to the Turkish Air force. On 1st September 1940 it was taken on charge by 54 Squadron based at Hornchurch. Two days later it moved with the unit to Cartterick and on 25th October 1940 it crashed at Hackforth with Cat.W/FA damage being recorded following the incident recorded above.