Hurricane V6936 at Dishforth.

On 7th August 1941 the Norwegian pilot of this 331 Squadron aircraft was undertaking a training flight out of his base of Catterick when he made a belly landing at or near Dishforth airfield after suffering engine failure.

Pilot - Fnr Stein Sem RNoAF.

The 331 Squadron ORB states that on this date the squadron carried out five hours of sector reconnaisance and also five hours of formation flying but does not list any flying accident or other incident on this date. Prior to 7th August 1941 331 Squadron had received some thirteen Hurricane MkI's, of which V6534, V7028, V7042, V7108, V6930 and W9137 all were converted to Ground Instructional Airframes in September 1941. On 11th August 1941 331 Squadron suffered another minor flying accident and again nothing of the incident was recorded in their ORB. It does however state that on 12th August 1941 all of 331 Squadron's aircraft (Hurricane MkI's) were grounded pending a court of enquiry and this probably came about following the incidents on 7th and 11th August 1941. The outcome of the enquiry on 16th August 1941 found that 41 Group were informed that they were to re-equip 331 Squadron with Hurricane MkII aircraft suggesting the the verdict was that there was a problem with the MkI's. On 17th August 1941 331 Squadron started to receive Hurricane MkII's but had then moved to Castletown on 21st August 1941.

Hurricane V6936 was built to contract 85730/40/32a by the Gloster Aircraft Company Ltd. at their Hucclecote factory and was flown to 51 MU at Lichfield on 15th October 1940. It was taken on charge by 308 Squadron at Baginton on 29th October 1940. On 22nd November 1940 it landed at Baginton with undercarriage not locked down and initially a Cat.R/FA damage assessment was made. This was then upgraded to Re.Cat.M and it was repaired on site. On 25th April 1941 it was transferred to 615 Squadron at Valley. On 26th April 1941 it tipped on it's nose at Valley and sustained Cat.M/FA damage. It was again repaired on site. On 3rd August 1941 the aircraft was transferred to 331 Squadron at Catterick. As a result of the damage sustained at Dishforth on 7th August 1941 Cat.M/FA damage was initially the assessment but this was upgraded to Re-Cat.R on 16th August 1941. It was then transported to Rolls Royce Ltd. at Hucknall for a repair in works and a conversion to Mk.IIa status took place. It was then re-numbered DR360. On 17th October 1941 it was flown to 46 MU at Lossiemouth. On 22nd October 1941 it went to 82 MU (Packing Depot) at Lichfield and on 5th November 1941 it was shipped on the S.S.Trehata to Russia. After this nothing more of the aircraft is known.

Back to monthly table.