Spitfire R7115 near East Hauxwell, Richmond.
At betwen 16.45hrs 17.15hrs on 19th September 1941 this 122 Squadron aircraft dived into the ground at steep angle from height near East Hauxwell. The location is believed to be now within a military
training area near the Gandale Camp. The pilot was killed in the accident and no cause for the accident was ever found. Very little information is stated in the publically available accident records. The AM Form 1180 simply stated "Dived into ground at a steep angle" while the AIR81/9178 casualty file does not add anything further.
Spitfire R7115 was built to contract B.19713/39 by Vickers Armstrong's (Supermarine) Ltd. at Eastleigh/Woolston and was first test flown on
10th February 1941. Three days later it was flown to 6 MU at Brize Norton for storage and on 11th June 1941 it was taken on charge by 122 Squadron
at Turnhouse. On 26th June 1941 it moved with this unit to Ouston and on 31th August 1941 it moved again with the unit to Catterick. As a result
of the crash on 19th September 1941 Cat.E2/FA damage was recorded and the aircraft was struck off charge on 26th September 1941.
Pilot - Sgt Ernest John Braund RAFVR (933623), aged 27, of Holburn, London. Buried Catterick Cemetery, Yorkshire.
Ernest Braund was a reasonable footballer in his junior days having played for England Boys amateur side in 1927 and at county level until 1934.
