Lysander R9026 wind damaged at Clifton airfield.
On 6th December 1940 strong gales were present over much of Yorkshire, the winds effected flying and also those aircraft on the ground. A number of 4 Squadron's Lysanders were tied to moorings at Clifton airfield and also protected by parking lorries in front of them but the strong winds tore four of the Lysanders from their moorings and blew them over. All sustained damage. The photograph shown above may depict one of the damaged aircraft. The aircraft damaged were Lysander R9026, R9030, R9075 and R9078.
Crew - None.
Lysander R9026 was built to contract 23637/39 by Westland Aircraft Ltd. at Yeovil and was awaiting collection in July 1940. After a short period of MU storage it was taken on charge by 4 Squadron at Clifton. The date is not known. As a result of the wind damage sustained on 6th December 1940 Cat.R damage was the damage assessment which saw it removed and repaired in a works factory. It was also converted to T.T.III target towing status at the same time. Work would have been carried out by either Airwork General Trading Co. Ltd, at Staverton, or Atlantic Coast Airlines Ltd. at Barnstaple or Redwing Aircraft Ltd. at Croydon. All had repair in works contracts for Lysanders at that time. Repair on site teams were supplied to airfields by Westland Aircraft Ltd. based at Yeovil but it was not carried out on site. After a period of further MU storage it was taken on charge by 8 A.G.S. at Evanton soon after the unit formed on 9th June 1941. By July 1943 it was back in MU store pending disposal before being struck off charge on 23rd October 1943.
