Spitfire R6893 at Catterick airfield.
On 21st March 1941 this 41 Squadron aircraft suffered engine failure on take off, the aircraft then struck an obstruction on the airfield boundary and sustained damage deemed enough
not make repair not worth while.
Pilot - Sgt Jack London RAFVR (935631). Slightly injured.
Jack London arrived at 41 Squadron on 11th February 1941 and left exactly three months later, he received a commission on 2nd October 1941 to the rank of P/O on
probation (emergency) (115148). He was promoted to F/O on probation on 1st October 1942 and F/Lt (war subs) on 2nd October 1943. Nothing more is known about him.
Spitfire R6893 was built to contract 19713/39 by Vickers Armstrong's (Supermarine) Ltd. at Woolston and was first test flown on 4th July 1940, the following day it
was flown to 6 MU at Brize Norton. On 9th July 1940 it was taken on charge by 54 Squadron at Rochford and coded "KL-T". The aircraft was a veteran of the Battle of
Britain but does not appear to have had any successes or damage incidents. On 24th July 1940 it moved with the unit to Hornchurch then four days later with the unit
to Catterick before returning to Hornchurch with the unit on 8th August 1940. The squadron moved back to Catterick on 3rd September 1940 and up it came again. It must
have been well used by the end of 1940 and on 30th December 1940 it passed into the hands of 43 Group Maintenance Command presumably for a major service which appears
to have been carried out at Catterick. 54 Squadron flew south to Hornchurch on 23rd February 1941 leaving behind R6893 which was still being serviced. On 1st March 1941
it was taken on charge by 41 Squadron which had moved into Catterick. Cat.E1/FA damage was recorded after inspection following the accident recorded above in March 1941
and it was declared beyond economic repair and struck off charge on 27th March 1941.