Spitfire P9506 at Ellerton, near Catterick.
On 10th February 1941 this 54 Squadron aircraft crash-landed just over the River Swale from Catterick airfield near to Manor Farm, Ellerton at 10.00hrs. The engine had failed on take off and the pilot believed he could not return to Catterick airfield. While the pilot escaped serious injury the aircraft was badly damaged and was sent for repair but was later deemed beyond repair and written off on 28th February 1942.
Pilot - Sgt P H Sexton (745495).
Spitfire P9506 was built to contract B980385/39 by Vickers Armstrong's (Supermarine) Ltd at Woolston and was first test flown on 20th April 1940. It
was then delivered to 12 MU at Kirkbride on 25th April 1940 where it remained until being issued to 249 Squadron at Leconfield on 20th May 1940. Five days
later it sustained the damage while based at Leconfield (as recorded
previously on this website) and Cat.R/FA was recorded. The report is very vague it it must have been a fairly serious damage as the record then states
that on 31st May 1940 it was dismantled and transported to "A.W." for repair. "A.W." is either Airworks at Staverton or Armstrong Whitworth at Baginton
but neither had contracts to repair Spitfires at that time. On 27th August
1940 it was flown to 9 MU at Cosford and the issued to 54 Squadron at Hornchurch for use in the Battle of Britain on 1st September 1940. Two days
later this unit moved to Catterick. On 10th February 1941 it sustained Cat.R/FA damage when crashed in a forced-landing at Ellerton, near Catterick
airfield (NOT the Ellerton near Howden) On 12th February 1941 it was dismantled and transported to Scottish Aviation Ltd. at Prestwick for repair but after assessment it was
Re-Cat.W and struck off charge on 28th February 1941 with total flying hours of 149 hours and 50 minutes.