Hurricane P2904 at Catterick airfield.
On 2nd August 1941 the undercarriage of this aircraft failed to lock down prior to landing at Catterick airfield and then collapsed on landing. The flight was being made to transfer the aircraft from 17 Squadron, based at Elgin to join 331 Squadron at Catterick. The pilot does not appear to have been either a 17 Squadron or 331 Squadron pilot.
Pilot - Sgt E Presland.
The pilot was possibly Sgt Eric Purcell Presland RAFVR (1376273). On 16th July 1942 F/Sgt Presland was killed when Hurricane BG884 of 274 Squadron crashed in Egypt. He is commemorated on the Alamein Memorial.
Hurricane P2904 was built to contract 962371/38/C23a by the Gloster Aircraft Company Ltd, at their Brockworth factory. It was initially flown to 20 MU at Aston Down on 14th May 1940 and was then taken on charge by 607 Squadron at Croydon on 30th May 1940. The squadron then undertook moves to Usworth on 5th June 1940, Tangmere on 1st September 1940, Turnhouse on 10th October 1940, Drem on 8th November 1940, Usworth on 12th December 1940, Macmerry on 10th January 1941, Drem on 2nd March 1941 and Skitten on 16th April 1941. On 4th July 1941 the aircraft was transferred to 17 Squadron at Castletown and they moved to Elgin on 29th July 1941. On 2nd August 1941 it sustained Cat.M/FA damage at Catterick and was taken on charge by 331 Squadron who were based there on the same date. On 13th August 1941 the damage was upgraded to Re-Cat.R and it was transported to Rolls Royce Ltd at Hucknall for a repair in works but during repair it was converted to a Mk.IIb and re-numbered DR357. On 10th October 1941 the aircraft was allocated to 22 MU at Silloth, it was collected from Hucknall by a pilot from 6 F.P.P. ATA and on arrival at Silloth it ran into a pool of water after landing and tipped on it's nose. The damage was assessed as Cat.M/FA and it was repaired on site. On 21st October 1941 the aircraft went to 44 MU at Edzell. On 7th December 1941 it went to 52 MU at Pengam Moors (Packing Depot) at Cardiff. On 15th December 1941 it was shipped to Russia and after this nothing more is known of the aircraft.