Battle L5667 near Catfoss airfield.

On 27th May 1941 this No.2 (Coastal) Operational Training Unit aircraft suffered engine failure on approach to land at Catfoss airfield during a drogue towing flight. The pilot crash landed in a ploughed field just short of the aerodrome boundary and the aircraft was slightly damaged.

Pilot - Sgt Klemens Prusak PAF (782599).

Crew - Names unknown, believed uninjured.

Klemens Prusak died on 27th February 1945 when 303 Squadron Spitfire MA814 crashed near Harrington, Northamptonshire. He is buried at Newark Cemetery, Nottinghamshire.
Battle L5667 was built to contract 540408/36 by the Austin Motor Car Co. Ltd. at Longbridge and was delivered to 22 M.U. at Silloth on 27th May 1940. On 19th June 1940 it was taken on charge by No.1 (Coastal) Operational Training Unit also at Silloth and on 16th September 1940 it sustained Cat.M/FA damage when it overshot on landing at Silloth and collided with a hedge. It was repaired on site and was returned to the unit. On 2nd December 1940 it transferred to the care of No.2 (Coastal) Operational Training Unit at Catfoss. It sustained minor damage on 25th January 1941 when it collided with a pillbox while taxying at Catfoss. Cat.M/FA damage was the damage assessment, it was repaired on site and returned to the unit. On 27th May 1941 the engine failed and it was force landed just short of Catfoss again sustaining minor Cat.M/FA damage. It was again repaired on site and returned to the unit. On 27th November 1941 it was transferred back to No.1 (Coastal) Operational Training Unit at Silloth. On 7th April 1942 minor Cat.A/FA damage was the assessment after it made a forced landing in bad weather at Kidsdale and skidded into a car. Again it was repaired on site and returned to the unit. It was eventually written off in a flying accident on 20th October 1942, with Cat.E/FA recorded, when the engine cut out and the then pilot made a forced landing four miles south of Carlisle but over shot the selected field and crashed. It was assessed and deemed beyond repair and then struck off charge on 30th October 1942 with a total flying time of 393.55hrs.

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