On 24th November 1940 this 54 Squadron aircraft was damaged as the result of a crash landing very near Thornaby airfield after the aircraft ran out of fuel and the pilot made a hurried landing there. The aircraft was later repaired.
Pilot - F/Lt Dorian George Gribble RAF (40695), of Ryde, Isle of Wight.
Dorian Gribble was born in Hendon in June 1919, he joined the RAF in March 1938 on a short service commission, after training he was posted to 54 Squadron in December 1938. On 24th May 1940 he shot down a Bf109 on patrol over France and the following day he found his own aircraft badly damaged in combat resulting in having to force land on a beach near Dunkirk. Removing his radio he returned to England by boat and rejoined his squadron. He damaged and destroyed many more aircraft during the Battle of Britain. He was awarded a richly deserved DFC on 13th August 1940, the citation reads.. "Since the outbreak of war, this young officer has taken part in most of the offensive patrols carried out by his squadron, including operations over the Low Countries and Dunkirk, and intensive air fighting over the Channel. Pilot Officer Gribble has led his section, and recently his flight, in a courageous and determined manner. On one offensive patrol, having expended his ammunition, he did not heitate to lead two other pilots of his section, under severe cross-fire, in an attack against a formation of six Dornier 17's. As a result the effective bombing of an important convoy was prevented. This officer has personally destroyed three Messerschmitt 109's and damaged many others."
He was confirmed in the rank of P/O on 7th March 1939 and was promoted to F/O exactly a year later. During his time at Catterick he was involved in further combat, on 27th October 1940 he damaged a Junkers Ju88 over the Cleveland Hills and on 9th November 1940 he damaged a Heinkel HeIII south east of Catterick. The squadron was posted to Hornchurch in February 1941 and by then he was the only original member of the unit such was the casualty rate. He was still serving with 54 Squadron when on 4th June 1941 he was reported missing flying Spitfire R7275. He attempted to bale out after being shot down by an Me109 but his body was never found and he is commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial. He was twenty one years old and undoubtably a very fine pilot. Sadly 609 Squadron pilot F/Lt J Churchin DFC was also lost whilst trying to locate F/Lt Gribble when Spitfire P7292 was also shot down and he too was never found. He was almost certainly in the rank of Acting F/Lt at the time of his death as no notification of this has been located in the London Gazette.
Spitfire X4031 was built to contract B19713/39 by Vickers Armstrong's (Supermarine) Ltd. at Woolston and was first test flown on 29th July 1940 before being flown to 12 MU at Kirkbride and placed into storage two days later. On 15th August 1940 it was flown to 6 MU Brize Norton in preparation to being issued to 64 Squadron at Kenley two days later. It then moved with this unit to Leconfield on 19th August 1940. On 24th August 1940 and for unspecified reasons, almost certainly after an accident, it was dismantled by 49 MU from Henlow (salvage and repair unit) and transported to General Aircraft Ltd. at Hanworth for repair. It arrived at Hanworth on 27th August 1940 and on 7th October 1940 the repairs were complete and it was flown to 37 MU at Burtonwood (ASU) for storage. On 13th November 1940 it was taken on charge by 54 Squadron at Catterick. The aircraft sustained damage at Thornaby on 24th November 1940 as stated above and Cat.R/FA damage was recorded, it was repaired on site (though may have been taken by road the short distance back to Catterick) and 22nd February 1941 the repairs were complete. 54 Squadron moved to Hornchurch the following day and left X4031 at Catterick, 41 Squadron moved in and took the aircraft onto their books.
On 19th April 1941 it was taken on charge by 452 Squadron at Kirton in Lindsey, on 28th May 1941 it passed to 313 Squadron at Catterick. On 8th June 1941 it overshot on landing at Catterick (detailed on this website) sustaining only very slight Cat.M(u)/FA damage, it was repaired on site again and returned to the unit. On 16th August 1941 it was taken on charge by 61 OTU at Heston but on 22nd August 1941 it struck a soft patch of earth on landing at Heston and the undercarriage collapsed. Cat.M(c)/FA damage was recorded and the aircraft was again repaired on site. On 4th September 1941 it was returned to 61 OTU charge. On 14th October 1941 it was repaired by a team from V.A.Ltd. at Heston airfield but the reason for this is not known. On 15th November 1941 it again returned to 61 OTU charge. On 25th February 1942 it dived into the ground at Worminghall, Buckingshire killing its then pilot. Cat.E2/FA damage was recorded and the aircraft written off.