Hurricane V7005 at Driffield airfield.
Owing to an earlier navigation error the pilot of this 46 Squadron aircraft had managed to land at Driffield airfield. At 17.45hrs on 24th April 1941 it was being taxied at Driffield airfield in a strong wind to position the aircraft on the airfield when a turn was made. The aircraft may well have been moving too fast at the time and after the turn was made the wind then became a strong cross wind. The cross wind caught the aircraft and it swung around which resulted in an undercarriage collapse. This pilot had only been posted to 46 Squadron from 222 Squadron two days before this incident.
Pilot - F/O John Michael Vowles Carpenter RAF (42191).
Hurricane V7005 was built to contract 85730/40/23a by the Gloster Aircraft Company Ltd. at their Hucclecote factory and was flown to 5 MU at Kemble on 27th October 1940. It was then taken on charge by 46 Squadron at North Weald on 11th November 1940. 46 Squadron then moved to Digby on 14th December 1940, Church Fenton on 28th February 1941 and Sherburn in Elmet on 1st March 1941. As a result of force landing near Staxton on 9th April 1941 Cat.M/FA damage was the damage assessment and it was repaired on site. Once servicable it was returned to 46 Squadron use. On 24th April 1941 it was damaged taxying at Driffield airfield. Cat.M/FA damage was the initial damage assessment but the following day it was inspected by 43 Group D.A. and the damage upgraded to Re-Cat.R.. On 5th May 1941 it was taken to Taylorcraft Ltd. at Rearsby for a repair in works. Once servicable on 14th August 1941 it was flown to 46 MU at Lossiemouth. On 23rd August 1941 it went to Gloster Aircraft Ltd. at Hucclecote for conversion to Sea Hurricane Mk.Ib. On 26th September 1941 it was flown to 15 MU at Wroughton and on 30th October 1941 it arrived at M.S.F.U. at Speke. On 29th January 1942 it was declared as having Cat.B damage but what occurred is not known. On 7th February 1942 it went to Rosenfield Ltd. at Barton for a repair in works. On 21st December 1942 it was flown to 48 MU at Hawarden and on 13th May 1943 was taken on charge by 56 O.T.U. at Tealing. On 22nd October 1943 it hit a train whilst low flying near Greenloading though the pilot went on to land safely at Tealing. Cat.A/FA damage was the damage assessment and it was repaired on site. On 20th July 1944 the aircraft went to 22 MU at Silloth and on 6th August 1944 it went to Catterick, presumably for Station Flight duties. On 27th November 1944 it was declared Cat.E during a major inspection and was struck off charge.