Spitfire P9334 at Catterick airfield.
At 16.15hrs on 21st September 1941 this 122 Squadron aircraft swung on landing at Catterick airfield, the pilot did not check the swing and eventually the undercarriage collapsed.
Pilot - Sgt William Arnold Prest RCAF (R/62267), of Prince Albert, Saskatchewan, Canada.
A little information on William Prest has been found on Hugh Halliday's RCAF awards webpages, he was born on 5th July 1918 and served with 122
Squadron from August 1941 until 1943 before returning to Canada. As F/Lt (J/15101) he was awarded the US Air Medal for service with 122 Squadron,
Gazetted on 20th July 1943 for his service in flying fighter aircraft protecting USAAF bombers. In February 1944 he was back in England and serving
with 443 Squadron and later joined 421 Squadron. After the War The Netherlands honoured him the Netherland Flying Cross, Gazetted on 1st January 1946,
for service with 421 Squadron.
Spitfire P9334 was built to contract B.980385/39 by Vickers Armstrong's (Supermarine) Ltd. at Eastleigh and was first test flown on 9th February 1940. There was probably a problem with it as it not issued to a squadron but was flown to 27 M.U. at Lichfield on 1st March 1940, remaining in storage there until 1st June 1940 when it was taken on charge by 41 Squadron at Hornchurch. 41 Squadron moved to Catterick on 8th June 1940. On 22nd July 1940 the undercarriage collapsed at Catterick, Cat.R/FA damage was the initial damage assessment but on 28th July 1940 it was re-assessed as being beyond repair at Catterick and in need of a repair in works. On 29th July 1940 it was taken by road to General Aircraft Ltd. at Hanworth. The repair took some time but the Battle of Britain was on going with many aeroplanes to repair. The repair was complete by 30th April 1941 and on this date it was flown to 6 M.U. at Brize Norton. On 11th June 1941 it was taken on charge by 122 Squadron at Turnhouse who later moved to Ouston on 26th June 1941 and Catterick on 31st August 1941. On 21st September 1941 the undercarriage collapased on landing at Catterick. Cat.A/FA damage was repaired on site by a team from Vickers with work commencing on 24th September 1941. On 8th November 1941 122 Squadron moved to Scorton. On 31st December 1941 the aircraft was transferred to 57 O.T.U. at Hawarden. On 28th June 1942 it force landed at Lane End, Malpass, Cheshire sustaining Cat.B/FA damage. On 14th July 1942 it was taken by road to AST Ltd. at Hamble for a repair in works. The repair was complete by 12th September 1942 when it was awaiting collection. On 12th September 1942 it was flown to 39 M.U. at Colerne. On 22nd September 1942 it was flown to 76 M.U. (Packing Depot) at Wroughton. On 9th October 1942 it was at Newport Docks and on 21st October 1942 it embarked on board SS City of Evansville for North Africa. On 23rd December 1942 it arrived at Port Sudan and on 31st December 1942 it was taken on charge by Middle East Command, HQ at Cairo. On 17th February 1943 it was taken on charge by 73 O.T.U. at Abu Sueir. Nothing more of the aircraft is known until it was struck off charge on 27th July 1944.