Spitfire R6775 at Catterick airfield.
In the mid-afternoon of 1st April 1941 this 41 Squadron aircraft struck a steam roller on Catterick airfield when the pilot was scrambled to carry out an
operational patrol off Scarborough. The aircraft dug it's nose into the ground and was later repaired. The pilot was blamed for not keeping a
look-out but why the steam roller was on the airfield is not known when Catterick was at a state of operational readiness.
Pilot - Sgt Thomas William Willmott RAF (997799).
"In March 1942, this airman flew with his squadron as escort to a force of bombers engaged on a bombing mission. During the flight our
aircraft were intercepted by enemy fighters and, in the ensuing engagement, Flight Sergeant Willmott destroyed and damaged another of the
hostile aircraft. When returning to base he observed one of our fighters being attacked by three Messerschmitt 109s. Having expended his
ammunition, he earned out feint attacks on the enemy fighters which eventually broke away. Flight Sergeant Willmott has carried out many
sorties of a determined character and he has always displayed great keenness to inflict damage on the enemy."
He later received his commission on 4th March 1942 (120033) to the rank of P/O on probation (emergency). He stayed with the RAF in the
Post-War period and rose to the rank of S/Ldr on 1st April 1956. He received a Commendation for Valuable Service in The Air on 1st January
1960 and retired soon after on 5th August 1960.
Thomas Willmott was awarded the DFM on 17th April 1942 for service with 260 Squadron, the citation was a detailed one and reads..
Spitfire R6775 was built to contract 19713/39 by Vickers Armstrong's (Supermarine) Ltd. at Woolston and was first test flown on 20th June 1940, two days
later it was flown to 8 MU at Little Rissington. On 12th July 1940 it was taken on charge by 65 Squadron at Hornchurch but was flown to AST Ltd. at Hamble
for repair work on 24th July 1940. Three days later it was returned to 65 Squadron at Hornchurch and on 28th August 1940 it moved with the unit to Turnhouse,
then on 29th November 1940 with the unit to Tangmere. On 7th February 1941 it was transferred to 54 Squadron at Catterick then on 22nd February 1941 it was
transferred to 41 Squadron at Catterick when 54 Squadron moved to Hornchurch and swapped aircraft with 41 Squadron. The Am1180 states it sustained Cat.W
damage as a result of this incident however this must have been an error as it was repaired and the likely damage was Cat.B/FA. (The Am1180 has an orginal
Cat.R damage crossed out and Cat.W then added but with Cat.R on the engine).
On 7th April 1941 it was dismantled and transported by road to AST Ltd. at Hamble for repair. On 25th June 1941 the repair was complete and it was flown
to 9 MU at Cosford for storage. On 23rd October 1941 it was taken on charge by 61 OTU at Heston and on 15th April 1942 it moved with the unit to Rednal.
On 24th January 1943 it was flown to 3501 SU at Cranfield for a major service then on 9th March 1943 taken on charge by 58 OTU at Grangemouth before being
transferred to No.2 TEU at Grangemouth on 8th March 1944/ On 15th August 1944 it is recorded as being Cat. damaged and was struck off charge and broken up.