Defiant N1623 at Church Fenton airfield.
On 4th June 1941 the undercarriage leg of this 54 Operartional Training Unit aircraft would not lock down on landing following a training flight, it collapsed on landing at Church Fenton at 16.35hrs.
Pilot - P/O Antoni Dziegielewski PAF (P.0373).
Defiant N1623 was built to contract 751807/38 by Boulton & Paul Ltd. at Wolverhampton and was awaiting collection in July 1940, after a period of MU storage
it was taken on charge around the 29th August 1940 by 264 Squadron at Kirton in Lindsey as a replacement for losses suffered two days previously when the unit was
based at Rochford. On 29th October 1940 it moved with the unit when they returned to Rochford. On 27th November 1940 it moved with the unit to Debden, then on
1st January 1941 with the unit to Gravesend and on 11th January 1941 to Biggin Hill. In April 1941 it was transferred to 54 OTU at Church Fenton. As a result of
the incident at Church Fenton on 4th June 1941 Cat.A/FA damage was recorded. It was repaired on site but by the time the repair was completed Defiant training
at Church Fenton had ceased so the aircraft was flown into MU storage. It next appears on the books of the newly formed 153 Squadron based at Ballyhalbert. In
May 1942 153 Squadron ceased operating Defiants so the aircraft was earmarked for MU storage but the same month 276 Squadron began operating Defiants at Harrowbeer
and the aircraft was taken on charge by them. In May 1943 276 Squadron ceased operating Defiants and the aircraft was placed in long term MU storage. On 30th
November 1944 it was struck off charge and broken up to be returned to produce.