Spitfire R6623 at Catterick airfield.
On 30th June 1941 one of the undercarriage legs of this 313 Sqaudron aircraft collapsed when it landed at Catterick airfield.
Nothing more is known about the incident.
Pilot - P/O Alois Hochmal (Czech) (82548).
Alois Hochmal was born in December 1914 in Holovousy, Czechoslovakia. He served in France in 1939 and arrived in the UK in 1940 and after a spell
training with 12 OTU from 27th September to 12th November 1940 he was posted to 4 FPP until 8th February 1941. He converted to fly fighters with
55 OTU from 8th February to 14th April 1941 and was then posted to 247 Squadron until 26th April 1941. Following a posting on that date to 501
Squadron he was posted to 313 Squadron on 25th May 1941 soon after its formation. On 1st October 1941 he was given a posting to the Czech Air
Force Inspectorate in London but returned to command A-Flight at 313 Squadron on 18th May 1943. He took overall command of the squadron on 22nd
May 1944 until 1st September 1944 when he was again posted to the Czech Air Force Inspectorate where he acted as an intelligance officer. For
his wartime service he was decorated with a number of Czech War Medals. It is believed that he did not return home after the War and died in England in 2010.
Spitfire R6623 was built to contract B.19713/39 by Vickers Armstrong's (Supermarine) Ltd at the Woolston/Eastleigh factory and was delivered to 12 MU
at Kirkbride on 26th May 1940. On 4th June 1940 it was taken on charge by 19 Squadron at Hornchurch, it moved with this squadron to a number of
airfields in the next weeks; on 5th June 1940 to Duxford, on 25th June to Fowlmere, on 3rd July to Duxford and on 24th July 1940 to Duxford. On 5th
August 1940 it transferred to the care of 64 Squadron at Kenley and moved to Leconfield with this squadron on 19th August 1940. On 23rd August 1940
it sustained minor damage, Cat.R/FB when it returned from an operational flight with battle damage - on this date a number of German reconnaissance
flights were reported off the East Coast and at night raids were reported at Middlesbrough, Harrogate and York so the aircraft was probable involved
in combat on one of these raids. The aircraft was declared Cat.R but deemed necessary for repair in works, on 23rd August 1940 to was taken to AST Ltd.
at Hamble for repair. On 8th November 1940 the repair was complete and it was flown to 37 MU at Burtonwood where it remained until 28th February 1941
when it was taken on charge by 41 Squadron at Catterick. On 26th April 1941 it was transferred to the newly formed 452 Squadron at Kirton in Lindsey
but was with them less than a month as on 22th May 1941 it was transferred to the newly formed 313 Squadron at Catterick and on 30th June 1941 it
sustained Cat.B/FA damage as a result of this incident at Catterick but must have remained there for some weeks in a damaged state. On 26th August 1941
it was transported by road to AST Ltd. at Hamble for repair and whilst there it was converted to Mk.Vc status. On 4th November 1941 it was flown to 5 MU
at Kemble and on 5th December 1941 it was taken on charge by 303 Squadron at Northolt. On 12th February 1942 it was transferred to 81 Squadron at Ouston,
it moved with this unit to Turnhouse on 14th February 1942 and in March 1942 it was slightly damaged in a flying accident at Ayr. It was then repaired
on site and on 4th April 1942 it was flown back to unit 81 Squadron at Turnhouse. On 12th April 1942 it was transferred to the newly formed 165 Squadron
at Ayr and on 15th May 1942 sustained Cat.A(c)/GA damage when the undercarriage control lever left in the 'up' position, forward movement of aircraft
caused uundercarriage to collapse injuring a member of ground crew. It was again repaird on site and returned to 165 Squadron on 15th July 1942 but on
the same day it was transferred to the 4th Fighter Squadron of the 52nd FG USAAF at Eglington. On 28th July 1942 it sustained Cat.B/FA damage when it
was involved in a landing collision with EN848 at Eglington. On 3rd August 1942 it was transported by road for repair to Short & Harland Ltd at Belfast
where it either remained for some months (or was put into storage). On 12th May 1943 it was flown to 46 MU at Lossiemouth then on 10th June 1943 it was
taken on charge by 61 OTU at Rednal. On 22nd April 1944 it sustained Cat.E2/FA damage when it was involved in a mid-air collision, it was struck in the
tail by Spitfire W3364 and crashed near Sellatyne, Shropshire with its then pilot being sadly killed.