Spitfire P8082 at Catterick airfield.
On 25th May 1941 this 41 Squadron aircraft suffered it's undercarriage collapsing on landing at Catterick airfield at 14.20hrs and the aircraft tipped up
onto it's nose. The aircraft suffered minor damage and was later repaired. An investigation believed that the aircraft had suffered strain on
a previous landing which had weakened the leg.
Pilot - Sgt Robert Arthur Beardsley RAFVR (741411).
"In the course of 14 operational sorties over enemy territory, Pilot Officer Beardsley has destroyed three, probably destroyed three and damaged a
further four hostile aircraft. Both as a section and flight commander, Pilot Officer Beardsley has set a fine example."
He later flew with 93 Squadron, 66 Squadron and possibly with 222 Squadron. He survived the War and initially left the RAF but rejoined and flew
with 74 Squadron to fly Metoers. He finally retired from the RAF in August 1970 and died in October 2003.
Robert Beardsley was born in January 1920, he joined the RAF in 1938 and flew with 610 Squadron in early part of the Battle of Britain. On 30th
August 1940 he was flying a Spitfire of 610 Squadron when he engaged a lone Heinkel HeIII off Folkestone. He was able to force the Heinkel down to
sea level and ditch. He arrvived at 41 Squadron in early September 1940, on 30th September 1940 he was flying Spitfire P9394 when he engaged a number
of Bf109's off Dungeness. His aircraft was hit in the engine and caught fire resulting in him making at forced landing at Hawkinge. On 25th October
1940 he was flying Spitfire P7371 when he again engaged a number of Bf109's of Dungeness, his aircraft was hit by 20mm cannon fire and he was once
again required to make a forced landing at Hawkinge. Both times he escaped injury. He received his commission in June 1941 and left 41 Squadron in
November 1941 but was awarded the DFC for Service with this unit in 1941. Gazetted in October 1941 the citation reads..
Spitfire P8082 was built to contract B.981687/39 by Vickers Armstrong's Ltd. at Castle Bromwich and after being test flown it was flown up to 45
MU at Kinloss on 15th March 1941. On 7th April 1941 it was taken on charge by 41 Squadron at Catterick. On 25th May 1941 Cat.A/FA damage was as bad
as the damage got in the incident recorded above and it was repaired on site and returned to the unit. On 28th July 1941 it moved with 41 Squadron to
Merston but on 30th Septmeber 1941 it was transferred to 122 Squadron and flown back to their base at Catterick. On 6th October 1941 it moved with
the unit to nearby Scorton but on 25th November 1941 it was transferred to 154 Squadron based at Fowlmere. It was damaged on 5th December 1941 and
Cat.B. damage recorded. After this incident it was transported to The Westland Aircraft Co. Ltd. at Yeovil for repair, this was complete by 12th May
1942 when it was taken on charge by 52 OTU at Aston Down. On 14th April 1943 it was flown into storage at 38 MU at Llandow but during it's stay here
it was converted to an ASR IIc configuration. On 13th July 1943 it was taken on charge by 276 Squadron at Harrowbeer but the unit was detached for
ASR duties to various airfields including Roborough, Warmwell, Perranporth and Fairwood Common and it was probably used at some of these sites. It
was finally struck off charge on 25th July 1944 with Cat.E damage recorded but how this damage was sustained is not known.