Hurricane P3151 near Bircotes.
In December 1941 this aircraft was being flown on a transfer flight from 52 OTU at Debden to join 55 Operational Training Unit at Usworth and had landed at Bircotes airfield for an unknown reason. On 16th December 1941 it took off from Bircotes suffered engine failure having just left the ground. The pilot made a forced landing with the undercarriage retracted near Bircotes airfield at 16.30hrs. Depending on where the incident took place it may be in Yorkshire.
Pilot - P/O J L R Taylor.
The pilot may have been P/O James La Rue Taylor RAFVR (110338). He was an American pilot serving in the RAFVR and was recorded as missing when Spitfire AD569 of 121 Squadron failed to return from an operational sortie to Dieppe on 19th August 1942. He is buried at Etaples Military Cemetery, France.
Hurricane P3151 was built to contract 962371/38/23a by the Gloster Aircraft Company Ltd. at Brockworth and was flown to 5 MU at Kemble on 27th June 1940. On 11th July 1940 it was taken on charge by 615 Squadron at Kenley but on 21st July 1940 it was recovered by 13 MU from Henlow Camp. On 26th July 1940 it went to 48 MU at Hawarden and then on 30th August 1940 it was taken on charge by 85 Squadron at Croydon. On 1st September 1940 it landed at Croydon with undercarriage jammed up after combat with Bf109's over Kenley. Cat.R/FB damage was the damage assessment made and on 11th September 1940 it was transported to 1 CRU at Cowley for a repair in works. With the aircraft repaired it was flown to 19 MU at St.Athan on 15th October 1940 and on 30th October 1940 it was taken on charge by 504 Squadron at Filton. On 18th December 1940 this unit moved to Exeter. On 12th May 1941 it was given a Cat.M damage assessment by 43 Group D.A. and was repaired on site. On 8th July 1941 it was returned to 504 Squadron charge at Exeter and this unit moved to Fairwood Common on 21st July 1941. On 5th August 1941 the aircraft was transferred to 133 Squadron at Coltishall and this unit moved to Duxford ten days later. On 3rd September 1941 it was transferred to 52 OTU at Debden. On 10th December 1941 it was transferred to 55 OTU at Usworth but it appears the transfer did not take place immediately, possibly down to the winter weather. The flight north was made on 16th December 1941 and it was then damaged near Bircotes. Cat.R/FA damage was the damage assessment. It was recovered and on 23rd December 1941 it was taken to Air Training (Oxford) Ltd. at Kidlington for a repair in works. Once servicable on 22nd February 1942 it was flown to 15 MU at Wroughton and on 10th April 1942 it was taken on charge by 1 Squadron at Tangmere. On 18th May 1942 it was transferred to 247 Squadron at High Ercall. On 1st November 1942 it was collected from High Ercall by No.2 Delivery Flight from Colerne but it then was flown into bad weather and was force landed in a field at Clapton, near Midsomer Norton, Somerset. The damage was initially assessed as Cat.Ac/FA but on 8th November 1942 this was upgraded to Re.Cat.B and it was sent for a repair in works. Once servicable on 28th March 1943 it went to 10 MU at Hullavington. On 2nd May 1943 it was taken on charge by 1622 A.A.C. Flight at Gosport. On 31st May 1943 it was transferred to Bracknell (the H.Q. of T.A.F.). On 22nd September 1943 a damage assessment of Cat.Ac damage was given against it and it was repaired on site. On 1st December 1943 it was transferred to 667 Squadron at Gosport. On 28th March 1944 it was taken to DeHavilland Ltd, at Hatfield for major repair but while there on 18th May 1944 it was deemed Re.Cat.E and was struck off charge.