Spitfire P7758 at Leconfield airfield.
On 18th June 1941 the pilot of this 485 Squadron aircraft was undertaking aerobatics over Leconfield airfield when the engine failed with the aircraft in a roll and flying inverted. The aircraft was at a low height at the time and dived, nose first, into the ground. The pilot was killed in the crash. There was a suggestion in the accident records that while the station commanding officer, squadron commanding officer and the pilot's flight commanding officer were on duty away from Leconfield and while the pilot's brother was visiting the station he undertook the aerobatics at too low a height than they would normally have been carried out.
Pilot - Sgt Kevin Desmond Cox RNZAF (NZ401257), aged 20, of Hamilton, Auckland, New Zealand. Buried Leconfield Churchyard, Yorkshire.
Sgt Cox and his gravestone at Leconfield churchyard.
Spitfire P7758 was built to contract B.981687/39/CB.23(c) by Vickers Armstrong's Ltd. at Castle Bromwich and was delivered to the RAF
on 10th December 1940 to 37 MU at Burtonwood. On 21st February 1941 it was taken on charge by 145 Squadron at Tangmere, it then moved
with the unit to Merston on 7th May 1941. On 1st May 1941 it was transferred to 485 Squadron at Leconfield. As a result of the accident
on 18th June 1941 Cat.E2/FA(Burnt) damage was recorded and the aircraft was struck off charge on 23th June 1941.