Fairey Battle L5625 near Catfoss airfield.
At 17.05hrs on 27th April 1941 this No.54 Operational Training Unit aircraft suffered engine failure while taking off from Catfoss airfield, the pilot raised the undercarriage and belly landed the aircraft in a field half a mile from the airfield boundary. I have not found any information to state why the aircraft was over near the coast.
Pilot - F/Lt C H Milton (Probably F/Lt Colin Horsey Milton RAF (39027)).
Battle L5625 was built to contract 540408/36 by The Austin Motor Car Company Ltd. at Longbridge and was delivered to 8 MU at Little Rissington on 26th June 1940. On 13th September 1940 it was taken on charge by 7 AACU at Watchfield but on 22nd October 1940 it returned to 8 MU at Little Rissington where it remained in storage until 4th March 1941. On that date it was taken on charge by 54 OTU at Church Fenton and on 27th April
1941 sustained Cat.M/FA damage at Catfoss. It was repaired on site and returned to the unit. On 11th September 1941 it was transferred to 57 OTU at Hawarden then on 29th October 1941 it was transferred to 60 OTU at East Fortune and returned to 57 OTU at Hawarden on 31st December 1941. On 10th November 1942 it moved with the unit to Eshott. On 18th May 1943 it was deemed in need of a major inspection and was flown to David Rosenfield Ltd. at Barton for work to be carried out but as a result of this inspection on 23rd June 1943 it was deemed not worth repairing and was struck off charge.